Rectangular capillary electrophoresis: Some theoretical considerations

Summary A theoretical study of the use of rectangular columns in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is presented. It was done employing some of the most important parameters that normally define the performance of CE separations, i.e. thermal effect, analysis speed, efficiency and sample capacity. Theoretical results from rectangular and cylindrical capillaries are compared in terms of the aforementionated parameters. Also, an estimate of the additional zone broadening that arises from the noninfinite dimension in the y-direction, in which the channel has its largest dimension, is presented.