Conductivity detection in capillary zone electrophoresis: inspection by PeakMaster

A simple rule stating that the signal in conductivity detection in capillary zone electrophoresis is proportional to the difference between the analyte mobility and mobility of the background electrolyte (BGE) co-ion is valid only for systems with fully ionized electrolytes. In zone electrophoresis systems with weak electrolytes both conductivity signal and electromigration dispersion of analyte peaks depend on the conductivity and pH effects. This allows optimization of the composition of BGEs to give a good conductivity signal of analytes while still keeping electromigration dispersion near zero, regardless of the injected amount of sample. The demands to achieve minimum electromigration dispersion and high sensitivity in conductivity detection can be accomplished at the same time. PeakMaster software is used for inspection of BGEs commonly used for separation of sugars (carbohydrates, saccharides) at highly alkaline pH. It is shown that the terms direct and indirect conductivity detection are misleading and should not be used.     

Optimization of background electrolytes for capillary electrophoresis I. Mathematical and computational model

A mathematical and computational model is introduced for optimization of background electrolyte systems for capillary zone electrophoresis of anions. The model takes into account mono- or di- or trivalent ions and allows also for modeling of highly acidic or alkaline electrolytes, where a presence of hydrogen and hydroxide ions is significant. At maximum, the electrolyte can contain two co-anions and two counter-cations. The mathematical relations of the model are formulated to enable an easy algorithmization and programming in a computer language. The model assesses the composition of the background electrolyte in the analyte zone, which enables prediction of the parameters of the system that are experimentally available, like the transfer ratio, which is a measure of the sensitivity in the indirect photometric detection or the molar conductivity detection response, which expresses the sensitivity of the conductivity detection. Furthermore, the model also enables the evaluation of a tendency of the analyte to undergo electromigration dispersion and allows the optimization of the composition of the background electrolyte to reach a good sensitivity of detection while still having the dispersion properties in the acceptable range. Although the model presented is aimed towards the separation of anions, it can be straightforwardly rearranged to serve for simulation of electromigration of cationic analytes. The suitability of the model is checked by inspecting the behavior of a phosphate buffer for analysis of anions. It is shown that parameters of the phosphate buffer when used at neutral and alkaline pH values possess singularities that indicate a possible occurrence of system peaks. Moreover, if the mobility of any analyte of the sample is close to the mobilities of the system peaks, the indirect detector signals following the background electrolyte properties will be heavily amplified and distorted. When a specific detector sensitive on presence of the analyte were used, the signal would be almost lost due to the excessive dispersion of the peak.     

Method development approaches for capillary ion electrophoresis

Capillary ion electrophoresis (CIE) is a capillary electrophoretic technique optimized for rapid determination of low-molecular-mass inorganic and organic ions. CIE predominantly employs indirect UV detection since the majority of the analytes lack specific chromophores. Described are three methods for detection and electrolyte optimization. The first method discussed approaches for optimizing sensitivity, selectivity and peak confirmation using a chromate electrolyte and selected detection wavelengths. Peak confirmation is aided by using both direct detection of analytes. The second and third methods involve an unattended electrolyte development approach for instruments that only provide fresh electrolyte on the injection side of the capillary. The electrolyte composition is changed in both the injection side vial and in capillary before each sample injection while leaving the receiving side electrolyte vial constant at the initial electrolyte composition. In one mode, the concentration of the electroosmotic flow (EOF) modifier used to induce anodic flow is varied while keeping the background electrolyte composition constant. In a second experiment, the background electrolyte co-ion is sequentially changed from high mobility to low mobility while keeping the EOF modifier concentration constant. The end effect is to achieve a broad range of controlled peak symmetry for analytes in a simple matrix. The results are compared to separations obtained when the injection side and receiving side electrolytes are manually matched.     

Sample matrix influence on the choice of background electrolyte for the analysis of bases with capillary zone electrophoresis

Low levels of impurities need to be determined in drugs. Consequently, if UV detection is used, a large sample amount must be loaded and as narrow peaks as possible obtained. The sample matrix and the stability of the samples as well as the peak resolution should be considered when the electrolyte is chosen. In this study the influence of the sample matrix composition with varying background electrolytes on the peak appearance of model mixtures loaded in large amounts was investigated. A robust electrolyte for analysis of bases in a sample with varying pH was found to consist of a buffering co-ion and a buffering counter-ion (the pH was approximately 4.2 in the electrolyte). If a minor component has higher mobility than the macrocomponent and the co-ion, better peak shape can be obtained if, for instance, enough sodium chloride is added to the sample, i.e., sample self-stacking is exploited. The effect of addition of organic modifiers, isopropanol or acetonitrile, was examined and good linearity and precision have been shown for impurities in the concentration range tested, approximately 0.03 to 5 mol% of the main component, in model mixtures.     

Maximization of separation efficiency in capillary electrophoretic chiral separations by means of mobility-matching background electrolytes

It has been predicted, both theoretically and by computer simulation, that in capillary electrophoresis the electromigration-dispersion-induced peak broadening can be eliminated by matching the mobilities of the analyte and the background electrolyte co-ion. Though mobility matching can be achieved by invoking multiple secondary chemical equilibria in the background electrolyte — such as protonation or complexation - to change the mobility of the co-ion, this approach is not feasible when the composition of the background electrolyte is dictated by the need to achieve a certain separation selectivity. In this paper, a background electrolyte preparation principle is outlined which decouples the dual roles of the background electrolyte, namely the buffering function and the mobility matching function, by ascribing the buffering function solely to the counter-ion (a conjugate acid or conjugate base) and the mobility matching function solely to the co-ion (a strong electrolyte). The power of this approach is demonstrated by solving difficult enantiomer separations.     

Determination of chloride ion in bismuth oxide by capillary electrophoresis

A procedure is developed for determining chloride ion in bismuth(III) oxide by capillary electrophoresis with indirect photometric detection after precipitating the major component of the sample as bismuthyl acetate. The mixture containing chromate ion and diethanolamine is used as a separating electrolyte. The detection limit for chloride ions in the developed procedure is 5 × 10^?4%, the relative standard deviation is 15%. The absence of a systematic error is confirmed by atomic absorption and laser mass spectrometry.     

Eigenmobilities in background electrolytes for capillary zone electrophoresis: II. Eigenpeaks in univalent weak electrolytes

We analyze in detail a mathematical model of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) based on the conception of eigenmobilities, which are eigenvalues of the matrix tied to the linearized continuity equations. Our model considers CZE systems, where constituents are weak electrolytes and where pH of the background electrolyte may reach the full range from 0 to 14. Both hydrogen and hydroxide ions are taken into account in relations for conductivity and electroneutrality. An electrophoretic system with N constituents has N eigenmobilities. We reveal that two of the eigenmobilities have a special meaning as they exist due to the presence of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions (in water solutions). These two eigenmobilities are responsible for the existence of two corresponding system zones (system peaks). We show that the stationary zone (injection zone, water zone, gap, peak, dip) is in many common background electrolytes composed of these two eigenzones which overlap, due to their very low electrophoretic mobility, into one zone. Other eigenmobilities give rise to system zones originating due to a possible existence of double (or multiple) coconstituents in the background electrolyte. The last group of eigenmobilities is connected with the movement of eigenzones accompanying analytes and enabling their indirect UV or conductivity detection. The model allows assessing experimentally available quantities such as effective mobility of the analyte, molar conductivity detection response, transfer ratio, and relative velocity slope and gives a picture about migration of analytes, their electromigration dispersion and signals obtained in detectors. It allows computer simulation of electropherograms and enables optimization of background electrolytes.     

Optimisation of probe concentration in indirect photometric detection in capillary electrophoresis using highly absorbing dyes

In indirect photometric detection in capillary electrophoresis, the concentration of the absorbing probe ion in the background electrolyte should be as high as possible in order to increase the dynamic range of the detection method. For relatively low absorptivity probes (epsilon < 2000 L mol(-1)cm(-1)) used under typical conditions (75 microm ID capillary) the maximum probe concentration is normally limited by the separation current. However, for medium (epsilon approximately/= 2000-15000 L mol(-1)cm(-1)) and especially for high (epsilon > 15000 L mol(-1)cm(-1)) absorptivity probes such as dyes, the maximum concentration may be limited by the background absorbance of the electrolyte which must fall within the linearity range of the detector. In this work, it is shown that another practical factor limiting the probe concentration is the adsorption of probe onto the capillary wall at higher concentrations, resulting in unstable baseline and increased noise. Use of a zwitterionic surfactant to suppress adsorption enabled the concentration of a model probe anion (tartrazine) to be increased by a factor of six times (to 3 mM). This resulted in significant improvements in peaks shapes, resolution between peaks, detection sensitivity and linear calibration range for the analyte anions. Baseline separation of a test mixture was maintained up to 7.5 mM total concentration of sample coions injected (13.7 nL) for the 3 mM electrolyte, with detection limits ranging from 0.63 to 0.94 microM. Peak height reproducibility (over 20 consecutive injections) was improved (values ranging from 1.1 to 1.9%) compared with electrolytes containing lower concentrations of the probe. Overall, the optimised, higher concentration probe electrolyte provided the sensitivity benefits of highly absorbing probes with the additional benefits of ruggedness and improved stacking, peak shapes and resolution.     

Determination of alkyl- and alkanolamines in drinking and natural waters by capillary electrophoresis with isotachophoretic on-line preconcentration

A procedure is developed for the determination of several amines in drinking and natural waters by capillary electrophoresis with isotachophoretic on-line preconcentration without sample preparation. A background electrolyte based on acridine as an absorbing ion is proposed for analysis with isotachophoretic on-line preconcentration and indirect photometric detection. The sample was injected in the hydrodynamic mode. The procedure was tested on drinking and natural water samples. The accuracy of data obtained was confirmed by the added–found method. The analytical range was from 0.25 to 5 mg/L. The time of one analysis was 5–6 min.     

Practical method for evaluation of linearity and effective pathlength of on-capillary photometric detectors in capillary electrophoresis

The optical characteristics of on-capillary photometric detectors for capillary electrophoresis were evaluated and five commercial detectors were compared. Plots of sensitivity (absorbance/concentration) versus absorbance obtained with a suitable testing solution yield both the linear range and the effective path length of the detector. The detector linearity is a crucial parameter when using absorbing electrolytes, such as for indirect photometric detection, and especially for highly absorbing electrolyte probe ions. The upper limits of the linear ranges (determined as 5% decline in sensitivity) for five commercial detectors ranged from 0.175 to 1.2 AU. The effective pathlength reflects the quality of the optical design of the detector and is equal to the capillary internal diameter only for a light beam passing exactly through the capillary centre, but becomes progressively shorter for imperfect optical designs. The determined effective pathlength for the five investigated detectors ranged from 49.7 to 64.6 microm for a 75 microm I.D. capillary.     

Study of enzymatic reaction by electrophoretically mediated microanalysis in a partially filled capillary with indirect or direct detection

Electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA), in combination with a partial filling technique and indirect or direct detection, is described for the study of enzymes reacting with the high mobility inorganic or organic anions as substrates or products. Part of the capillary is filled with a buffer optimized for the enzymatic reaction, the rest of the capillary with the background electrolyte being optimal for the separation of substrates and products. With haloalkane dehalogenase, chosen as a model enzyme, the enzymatic reaction was performed in a 20 mM glycine buffer (pH 8.6). Because of the wide substrate specificity of this enzyme, utilizing chlorinated as well as brominated substrates and producing either nonabsorbing chloride or absorbing bromide ions, two different background electrolytes and detection approaches were adopted. A 10 mM chromate-0.1 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide background electrolyte (pH 9.2) was used in combination with indirect detection and 20 mM beta-alanine-hydrochloric acid (pH 3.5) in combination with direct detection. The Michaelis constant (K(m)) of haloalkane dehalogenase for 1-bromobutane was determined. The K(m) values 0.59 mM estimated by means of indirect detection method and 0.17 mM by means of direct detection method were comparable with the value 0.13 mM estimated previously by gas chromatography.     

Peak deformation in cationic analysis caused by system zones.

In electrophoretic processes, often zones migrate through the separation compartment, with a composition different from that of the background electrolyte (BGE) but which do not contain, however, any component of the sample mixture. These zones migrate with a mobility mainly determined by the composition of the BGE and are called system zones (SZs). If these SZs are visible in electropherograms they are called system peaks (SPs). If sample components have a mobility close to that of a SZ, the separation process can be disturbed and the sample peak shapes are deformed. SZs can appear applying BGEs containing more co-ionic species or if BGEs are used at high or low pH. Recently, the existence of SZs has been described applying BGEs containing weak multivalent anionic species. In this paper, the diverse kinds of system zones, are discussed for cationic systems and the effect of invisible SZs on separations is shown. As an example of a weak multivalent cation, the behavior of the divalent cation histamine is studied, which can be used as co-ion in BGEs for the separation of cations in the indirect UV mode. Applying BGEs containing histamine, SZs are visible in the electropherograms and there existence could also be established theoretically by the use of SystCharts. A mathematical model for the calculation of the mobility of SZs is verified and it has been shown that an unsafe region with a mobility window of msp +/- 10% can be indicated, for the separation of fully ionized sample components.     

Optimization of background electrolytes for capillary electrophoresis: II. Computer simulation and comparison with experiments

A mathematical and computational model described in the previous paper (Gas, B., Coufal, P., Jaros, M., Muzikár, J., Jelínek, L., J. Chromatogr. A 2001, 905, 269-279) is adapted, algorithmized, and a computer program PeakMaster having a status of freeware (http://natur.cuni.cz/ approximately gas) is introduced. The model enables optimization of background electrolyte (BGE) systems for capillary zone electrophoresis. The model allows putting to use uni- or di- or trivalent electrolytes and allows also for modeling highly acidic or alkaline BGEs. It takes into account the dependence of ionic mobilities and dissociation of weak electrolytes on the ionic strength. The model calculates the effective mobility of analytes and predicts parameters of the system that are experimentally available, such as the transfer ratio, which is a measure of the sensitivity in the indirect UV detection or the molar conductivity detection response, which expresses the sensitivity of the conductivity detection. Further, the model enables evaluation of a tendency of the analyte to undergo electromigration dispersion or peak broadening. The suitability of the model is verified by comparison of the predicted results with experiments, even under conditions that are far from ideal (under extreme pH and a high ionic strength).     

Performance of a simple UV LED light source in the capillary electrophoresis of inorganic anions with indirect detection using a chromate background electrolyte

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are known to be excellent light sources for detectors in liquid chromatography and capillary electromigration separation techniques, but to date only LEDs emitting in the visible range have been used. In this work, a UV LED was investigated as a simple alternative light source to standard mercury or deuterium lamps for use in indirect photometric detection of inorganic anions using capillary electrophoresis with a chromate background electrolyte (BGE). The UV LED used had an emission maximum at 379.5 nm, a wavelength at which chromate absorbs strongly and exhibits a 47% higher molar absorptivity than at 254 nm when using a standard mercury light source. The noise, sensitivity and linearity of the LED detector were evaluated and all exhibited superior performance to the mercury light source (up to 70% decrease in noise, up to 26.2% increase in sensitivity, and over 100% increase in linear range). Using the LED detector with a simple chromate-diethanolamine background electrolyte, limits of detection for the common inorganic anions, Cl-, NO3-, SO4(2-), F- and PO4(3-) ranged from 3 to 14 microg L(-1), using electrostatic injection at -5 kV for 5 s.     

Parameters influencing separation and detection of anions by capillary electrophoresis

Electrolyte composition is critical in optimizing separation and detection of ions by capillary electrophoresis. The parameters which must be considered when designing an electrolyte system for capillary electrophoresis include electrophoretic mobility of electrolyte constituents and analytes, detection mode, and compatibility of electrolyte constituents with one another. An electrolyte system based on pyromellitic acid is well suited for use with indirect photometric detection, and provides excellent separations of anions. The ability to modify the electrophoretic mobility of pyromellitic acid as a function of ph provides flexibility in matching electrophoretic mobilities of analytes. Additionally, the use of alkyl amines as electroosmotic flow modifiers allows the rapid separation of anions by reversing the direction of electroosmotic flow in a fused-silica capillary. The optimization of a capillary electrophoresis electrolyte for anion analysis is also discussed in terms of pH, ionic strength and applied voltage. The effect of organic solvent on separation selectivity is also discussed.     

Study of the selectivity of inorganic anions in hydro-organic solvents using indirect capillary electrophoresis

In capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis of small inorganic anions, the ability to control the electroosmotic flow (EOF) and the ability to alter the electrophoretic mobility of the ions are essential to improve resolution and separation speed. In this work, a CE method for separation of small inorganic anions using indirect detection in mixed methanol/water buffers is presented. The suitability of different UV absorbing probes commonly used for indirect detection including chromate, iodide, phthalate, benzoate, trimellitate, and pyromellitate, in mixed methanol/water buffers is examined. The effect of the electrolyte buffer system, including the pH, buffer concentration and the organic solvent on the electrophoretic mobility of the probes and analytes are also investigated. The EOF was reversed using cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) so ions were separated under co-EOF mode. The organic solvent alters the electrophoretic mobility of the probes and the analytes differently and hence choice of the appropriate probe is essential to achieve high degree of detection sensitivity. Separations of six anions in less than 2.5 min were accomplished in buffers containing up to 30% MeOH. Adjustment of the methanol content helps to improve the selectivity and resolution of inorganic anions. Limit of detection, reproducibility and application of the method for quantification of anions in water samples will also be discussed.     

System zones in capillary zone electrophoresis: moving boundaries caused by freely migrating hydroxide ions

We present theoretical and experimental data indicating that anionic system zones (SZs), due to free migrating hydroxide anions, can be expected in background electrolytes (BGEs) with a low buffer capacity. In the system containing completely unbuffered BGEs the hydroxide ions derived from the sample start to migrate freely through the capillary tube with the mobility of single hydroxide ions and cause stepwise disturbances in the baseline of the detector trace. Remarkably, this type of SZs do not appear to contribute significantly to the electromigration dispersion (EMD) of the zones of the analytes.     

Indirect spectrophotometric detection of inorganic anions in ion-exchange capillary electrochromatography

The application of indirect spectrophotometric detection was investigated for a capillary electrochromatographic system in which an anion-exchange stationary phase (in the form of aminated latex particles) was coated onto the wall of a fused-silica capillary. The study has focused on the choice of the type and concentration of the absorbing coion (probe) added to the background electrolyte and the role of this species in manipulating the ion-exchange contributions to the separation with a view to controlling the selectivity of the separation. Common inorganic anions were used as analytes and nitrate, p-toluenesulfonate, nicotinate, and chromate were investigated as probes. It was found that most of these probes produced only a limited range of separation selectivities when their concentration was varied over the practically accessible range. p-Toluenesulfonate provided the greatest variation in selectivity, but peak distortion due to electromigration dispersion was evident for the faster ions. When variation of the separation selectivity - from predominantly electrophoretic in nature to predominantly ion-exchange in nature - was desired, this was best achieved by varying the type of probe rather than its concentration. For example, the nitrate probe provided predominantly electrophoretic separations with good peak shapes and high efficiencies. A comprehensive list of probes, ranked in order of ion-exchange selectivity coefficients determined by ion chromatography, was compiled and this proved to be a useful tool to assist in the selection of a probe for a desired separation selectivity. The limits of detection for the analytes and probes studied ranged from 20-55 micromol for the chromate system to 230-600 micromol for the nicotinate system, with nitrate and p-toluenesulfonate giving intermediate values.     

The effect of conductivity tuning in chiral separations by CE; Using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in combination with tetraalkylammonium ions

Summary Different approaches how to handle the electromigration dispersion process that occurs in separation and determination of enantiomers are presented. The use of cyclodextrins as chiral selectors in resolution enantiomers involves the possibility to tune the conductivity of the sample band in order to obtain symmetrical and efficient peaks. Determination of impurities that migrate in the rear part of an overloaded main peak can be accomplished if the conductivity of the background electrolyte (BGE) is adapted to the conductivity of the sample band. This strategy was shown in determination of the content of D-sotalol in a mixture of L and D-sotalol. The efficiency and the symmetry of the overloaded L-sotalol peak was substantially improved by substitution of tetrabutylammonium ions for tetrapentylammonium ions as co-ions in the BGE. In this system it was possible to determine 0.2% w/w of the chiral impurity D-sotalol. A resolution model is presented and used qualitatively in the study where the complexation between the tetraalkyllammonium ions and the cyclodextrins is taken into account.     

Enhancement of detection sensitivity for indirect photometric detection of anions and cations in capillary electrophoresis

This review focuses on the indirect photometric detection of anions and cations by capillary electrophoresis. Special emphasis has been placed on the sensitivity of the technique and approaches taken to enhance detection limits. Theoretical considerations and requirements have been discussed, including buffering, detection sensitivity, separation of cations, and detector linearity. A series of tables detailing highly absorbing probes and the conditions of their use for indirect photometric detection are included.