Chelex 100 Resin is a styrene divinylbenzene copolymer containing paired iminodiacetate ions, which act as chelating groups in binding polyvalent metal ions. The carboxylic acid groups of Chelex 100 Resin classify it as a weak cation exchange resin, but it differs from other exchangers in this class by featuring uniquely high selectivities for metal ions and much higher bond strengths. The resin can be used to ultrapurify buffers and ionic reagents: it will scavenge metal contaminants without altering the concentration of nonmetal ions.
Chelex 100 chelating ion exchange resin has a stronger selectivity for copper, iron, and other heavy metal ions over monovalent cations such as sodium and potassium. Its selectivity for divalent over monovalent ions is approximately 5,000 to 1, and it has a strong attraction for transition metals, even in highly concentrated salt solutions.
Chelex 100 Resin can also capture divalent cations such as Mg2+ or Ca2+ from biological samples and inhibit the activity of metallo-nucleases. This allows Chelex 100 Resin to be used for DNA and RNA sample preparation, offering a cost-effective alternative to conventional extraction kits.
The following forms of Chelex 100 Resin are available
Analytical grade Chelex 100 Resin — exhaustively sized, purified, and converted to make it suitable for accurate, reproducible analytical techniques
Biotechnology grade Chelex 100 Resin — the analytical grade form certified to contain fewer than 100 microorganisms per gram of resin
Molecular biology grade Chelex 100 Resin — certified to be endo- and exonuclease-free and contain no ligase inhibitors
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