Indirect amperometric measurement of electroosmotic flow rates and effective mobilities in microchip capillary electrophoresis

End-channel indirect amperometry is based on the principle of Kohlrausch regulating function (KRF). A dilute electroactive ionic species is added to the background electrolyte as a continuously eluting electrophore, which is used as probe. The probe concentration variation with the omega value of KRF in the sampling zone was described schematically in this report. Either cathodic or anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) rates were monitored in microchip. There was no significant difference between the values of EOF rates measured by present method and current-monitoring method. Detection of electroactive and nonelectroactive analytes can also be accomplished by indirect amperometric method. Hence, the effective mobility of analytes can be accurately calculated. And the response mechanism of nonelectroactive analytes K(+), Na(+) and Li(+) in the indirect method was speculated.