The principle of the aqueous two-phase system is used for liquid-liquid fractionation, which has expanded due to its use in extraction, separation, purification and enrichment of proteins, membranes, viruses and other biomolecules, both in laboratory and on industrial level. This separation method provides a friendly environment for macromolecules, high efficiency and the possibility of scaling up the process to an industrial level. It is environmentally friendly and a financially favourable method. We will focus in describing the basic properties of aqueous two-phase systems, the process of phase partitioning and thermodynamic basis of this method.
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