elution

1. The separation, by washing, of one solid from another. 2. The removal, by means of a suitable solvent, of one material from another that is insoluble in that solvent, as in column chromatography. 3. The removal of antibodies absorbed onto the erythrocyte surface. SYN: elutriation. [L. e-luo, pp. lutus, to wash out]

- gradient e. e. in column chromatography in which a changing pH or ionic strength is used to separate substances.

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elu·tion (e-looґshən) [L. e out + luere to wash] in chemistry, the separation of material by washing, as in the freeing of an enzyme from its absorbent.