Two hot-wire type of glass thermal diffusion columns (approximately 3 m long, 8 mm internal diameter and fitted with an axial platinum wire 0.5 mm diameter) have been used to study the characteristics of gas mixture separation. In particular, the mixtures of Ne-Ar and He-Ar are examined, and the dependence of the separation factor, q, on the pressure and composition of the gas mixture and the temperature of the hot-wire is investigated. The variation of q with pressure and temperature for nonisotopic mixtures is in qualitative agreement with the predictions of the theory for isotopic mixtures. Further q is found to increase as the proportion of the lighter component in the mixture is decreased. These conclusions are of special relevance for the purification of gas mixtures viz., the removal of the lighter gas impurity from the mixture.