Effect phenol concentration on protein extraction

Effect phenol concentration on protein extraction

Left series - phenol diluted with increasing amounts of toluene

Right series - chlorophenol diluted with increasing amounts of toluene

Samples (WSMV infected maize) consist of 200ml of aqueous phase, 120ml of organic phase

Phenol/toluene ratios are of added organic phase. Actual ratios are likely higher since some phenol goes into aqueous phase. Chlorophenol was lower quality (brown) than phenol. One cannot conclude that chlorophenol extracts better since these are 4 component systems. To accurately compare the two phenols one should use small aqueous phases so as not to perturb the solvent ratio in the phenol phase.