Definition

1. Verb:
   • To separate substances in a solution by dialysis: This is a scientific process where smaller molecules are separated from larger ones in a liquid mixture by causing them to diffuse through a semipermeable membrane.

Usage

• Verb (transitive): The action is performed on a solution or mixture.
  • The laboratory technician will dialyse the protein solution to remove the salts.
  • This machine is used to dialyse blood samples for analysis.

Advanced Usage

• "to dialyse against": This is a common scientific construction describing the process where a solution is dialysed while immersed in a larger volume of a different liquid (the dialysate) to allow for the exchange of molecules.
  • You need to dialyse the sample against a buffer overnight to achieve proper purification.

Variants and Related Words

• Dialysis (n): The process or act of dialysing.
  • The patient requires regular kidney dialysis.
• Dialyser/Dialyzer (n): The apparatus or machine used to perform dialysis.
  • The haemodialyser cleans the patient's blood.

Synonyms

• Purify by diffusion: To cleanse or separate using the process of diffusion through a membrane.
• Separate selectively: To divide components based on size or other selective criteria.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and almost exclusive use of "dialyse" is in scientific and medical contexts, specifically chemistry, biochemistry, and medicine (e.g., renal dialysis). It does not have common everyday or figurative meanings.

Verb

1. separate by dialysis