Agarose is a linear polysaccharide consisting of alternating residues of D-galactose and 3-anhydrogalactose (Scouten, 1981). It is naturally occurring in sea kelp and is isolated in heterogeneous form. Unrefined agarose contains many ionic residues: chiefly carboxylate and sulfate (Scouten, 1981). By far the most widely used agarose is beaded agarose, however, commercial agarose beads may contain up to .37% sulfur, indicating that the number of sulfate groups in this agarose are considerable (Scouten, 1981). To make sure that one's matrix does not have an ionic charge, must first pre-treat it in order to rid the matrix of any charge that may change how the biomolecules react to the matrix. A few adsorption capacities of varying agarose gels are shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

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Gel TypeddddddddddddddddAdsorption Capacity DdDdddDDDDDDPercent Sulfur

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Commercial agarose 6%AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA0.080KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK0.118
ECD-agaroseAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAssAA0.008KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK0.021
Commercial Agar 6% (beads) SSSSS dddddSSSoSS0.240KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK0.371
ECD-agar 6% (beads)dddddddddddddddddddddddd0.060KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK0.049
Reduced ECD-agar 6% (beads)dddddddd dddddddd0.004KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK0.012
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(Scouten, 1981)OOOOOOOO

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