Electric‐Field Distribution at the End of a Charged Capillary—A Coupling Imaging Study

The electric‐field distribution at the end of a charged capillary system is detected using a scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) coupling imaging mode. A theoretical model based on the resistance of solution at the capillary end describes the three‐dimensional distribution of the electric field. The effect of the detection electrode position and separation high voltage on solution potential is observed and analyzed. Results demonstrate that the electric field at the end‐channel shows an isopotential contour changing from a disk shape into a hemispherical shape when leaving the capillary opening. The solution potential decreases along the central axis of the capillary to the detection reservoir. In the same scanning plane, the solution potential decreases along the radial direction. Increase of the separation high voltage results in the increase of the absolute solution potential but does not change the relative spatial electric‐field distribution.     

Indirect Measurement of Yoctomole Alkaline Phosphatase by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A method for indirectly detecting yoctomole (ymol) alkaline phosphatase was developed by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection. In this method, disodium phenyl phosphate was used as the enzyme substrate and the product (phenol) of its hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by alkaline phosphatase was detected at the carbon fiber electrode. The optimum conditions of detection are 1.0×10^?2 mol/L Na₂B₄O₇ (pH 9.8) for the running buffer; 1.00×10^?3 mol/L disodium phenyl phosphate for the enzyme substrate; 20.0 kV for the separation voltage; 5 kV and 10 s for the injection voltage and injection time; 1.05 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) for the detection potential and 10 min for the incubation time, respectively. In order to enhance the ratio of signal to noise, the shape and size of the working electrode, the shape of detection end of the capillary, and the capillary/electrode alignment method were studied in detail. When a single carbon fiber microcylinder electrode of 6 μm, a capillary of 10 μm ID with the etched detection end and the in‐capillary alignment were used, a ymol mass limit of detection for alkaline phosphatase was achieved.     

Application of a Square‐Wave Potential Program for Time‐Dependent Amperometric Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis

Use of a square‐wave potential program for time‐dependent amperometric detection of analyte zones in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is described. Electrochemical detection for CE requires that the separation field be isolated from that of the electrochemical detection. This is generally done by physically separating the CE separation field from that of the detection. By applying a time variant potential program to the detection electrode, the detector current has a time dependence that can be used to help isolate the electrochemical detection current from that of the separation. When using a 20 μm inner‐diameter capillary, we find that a square‐wave potential program decreases the RMS baseline current from 4.5×10^?10 A, found with a constant potential amperometric detection, to 1.1×10^?10 A when using a square‐wave potential program. With a 75 μm inner‐diameter capillary, the improvement is even more dramatic, from 2.3×10^?9 A with amperometric detection to 2.06×10^?10 A when using a 1 Hz square‐wave potential program. When not using the time‐dependent detection with the 75 μm capillary, the analyte zones were beneath the S/N for the system and not detected. With the square‐wave potential program and time‐dependent detection, however, the analyte zones for an electrokinetic injection of 200 μM solution of 2,3‐dihydroxybenzoic acid were observed with the 75 μm inner‐diameter capillary. The improvement in the ability to discriminate the analytical signal from the background found experimentally is consistent with modeling studies.     

Sheath-flow electrochemical detection of amino acids with a copper wire electrode in capillary electrophoresis

Here, we report the detection of native amino acids using a sheath-flow electrochemical detector with a working electrode made of copper wire. A separation capillary that was inserted into a platinum tube in the detector acted as a grounded electrode for electrophoresis and as a flow channel for sheath liquid. Sheath liquid flowed outside the capillary to support the transport of the separated analytes to the working electrode for electrochemical detection. The copper wire electrode was aligned at the outlet of the capillary in a wall-jet configuration. Amino acids injected into the capillary were separated following elution from the end of the capillary and detection by the copper electrode. Three kinds of copper electrodes with different diameters-50, 125, and 300 μm-were examined to investigate the effect of the electrode diameter on sensitivity. The peak widths of the analytes were independent of the diameter of the working electrode, while the 300-μm electrode led to a decrease in the signal-to-noise ratio compared with the 50- and 125-μm electrodes, which showed no significant difference. The flow rate of the sheath liquid was also varied to optimize the detection conditions. The limits of detection for amino acids ranged from 4.4 to 27 μM under optimal conditions.     

Microchannel-electrode alignment and separation parameters comparison in microchip capillary electrophoresis by scanning electrochemical microscopy

The end of separation channel in a microchip was electrochemically mapped using the feedback imaging mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). This method provides a convenient way for microchannel-electrode alignment in microchip capillary electrophoresis. Influence of electrode-to-channel positions on separation parameters in this capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical detection (CE-ED) was then investigated. For the trapezoid shaped microchannel, detection in the central area resulted in the best apparent separation efficiency and peak shape. In the electrode-to-channel distance ranging from 65 to 15mum, the limiting peak currents of dopamine increased with the decrease of the detection distance due to the limited diffusion and convection of the sample band. Results showed that radial position and axial distance of the detection electrode to microchannel was important for the improvement of separation parameters in CE amperometric detection.     

毛细管电泳电导法快速检测饲料添加剂氯化胆碱

采用毛细管电泳电导法对饲料添加剂氯化胆碱进行了测定.实验优化了缓冲介质、分离电压、毛细管长度和内径等参数.结果表明:在优化条件下,氯化胆碱在4 min左右可以实现分离检测,线性范围在41.8～1.20 μg/mL,检出限为0.8 μg/mL;迁移时间和峰面积的相对标准偏差分别为0.6%、2.1%;样品加标回收率为97%～105%.将该法用于粉剂和饲料中氯化胆碱的检测,取得了满意的结果.     

毛细管电泳多脉冲溶出安培检测方法的研究

 摘要：将用于电化学检测的三电极与驱动电泳分离的电化学系统的接地电极在毛细管出口处的外面作适当的布置,可最大程度地减少高压电场对安培检测的干扰。多阶脉冲溶出安培检测方式提高了电流检测灵敏度,并可在一定程度上通过不同的溶出电位鉴别分离组分。将该方法应用于铜、锌、铅、铊、镉等离子的毛细管电泳分离,得到了较满意的结果。     

A Capillary Electrophoresis End‐Column Amperometric Detection System Incorporating Disposable Copper‐Plated Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes

We report here the development of copper‐plated screen‐printed carbon electrodes (designated as Cu‐SPE) to employ as electrochemical detectors for the determination of sugars by capillary electrophoresis (CE). A simple end‐column amperometric detection system with easily exchangeable (or even disposable) electrode and capillary in CE is described in this study. A complex alignment procedure was not required in this system based on the end‐column electrode arrangement using an 85 cm length and 20 μm (i.d.) capillary. The optimized separation voltage and applied potential were 9 KV and 0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), respectively, for the detection of sugars using the Cu‐SPE. Good resolution was obtained by this proposed system with migration times of 28.8, 29.5, 29.9, 30.7, 31.2, and 32.0 min for galactose, glucose, arabinose, fructose, xylose, and ribose, respectively.     

Determination of Active Ingredients of Hawthorn by Capillary Electrophoresis with Electrochemical Detection

A method based on capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection has been developed for the separa-tion and determination of epicatechin,kaempferol,chlorogenic acid,4-hydroxybenzoic acid,quercetin and proto-catechuic acid in hawthorn for the first time.The effects of working electrode potential,pH and concentration ofrunning buffer,separation voltage and injection time on CE-ED were investigated.Under the optimum conditions,the analytes could be separated in a 60 mmol·L~(-1) borate buffer(pH 8.7)within 21 min.A 300 μm diameter carbondisk electrode has a good response at 0.95 V(vs.SCE)for all analytes.The response was linear over three ordersof magnitude with detection limits(S/N=3)ranging from 3×10~(-8) to 2×10~(-7) g·mL~(-1) for the analytes.The methodhas been successfully applied to the analysis of real sample,with satisfactory results.     

Determination of baicalein, baicalin and quercetin in Scutellariae Radix and its preparations by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

A method based on capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection (CE-ED) was developed for the determination of baicalein, baicalin and quercetin in Scutellariae Radix and its pharmaceutical preparations. The effects of some important factors such as the acidity and concentration of running buffer, separation voltage, injection time, and the potential of working electrode were investigated to acquire the optimum condition. The working electrode was a 300-mum diameter carbon disc electrode positioned opposite the outlet of capillary. The three analytes could be well separated within 12 min in a 40 cm length capillary at the separation voltage of 12 kV in a 100 mmol l(-1) borate buffer (pH 9.0). The response was linear over three orders of magnitude with detection limits (S/N=3) ranged from 0.224 to 0.548 mumol l(-1) for all three analytes. This proposed method demonstrated good long-term stability and reproducibility with R.S.D. of less than 5% for both migration time and peak current (n=7). It has been successfully applied to analyze the actual samples with satisfactory assay results.     

毛细管电泳-柱端安培检测测定莲子心中荷叶碱、芦丁和金丝桃甙的含量

采用毛细管电泳-柱端安培检测测定莲子心中荷叶碱、芦丁和金丝桃甙的含量．研究了检测电位、运行缓冲液浓度和pH值,分离电压和进样时间对分离和检测的影响．以微碳圆盘电极（Ф=0.5ram）为工作电极,检测电位为＋0．95V（vs．Ag／AgCl）,pH为7．25的50mmol／L Na2B4O7和100mmol／L NaH2PO4缓冲液为运行液,当分离电压为15kV时,3种分析物在15min内完全分离．荷叶碱、芦丁和金丝桃甙的检出限（S／N=3）分别为0．02μg／mL、0．05μg／mL和0．04μg／mL．该方法已成功地应用于莲子心中上述3种活性成分的测定．     

Integration of Separation Capillary with a Au Film Electrode and an Etched Decoupler in Amperometric Capillary Electrophoresis

Introduced in this article is fabrication of an integrated capillary for the applications of electrochemical detection in capillary electrophoresis. The separation section, voltage decoupler, and working electrode were composed into a single section of capillary. The porous decoupler was constructed by HF etching till the thickness of the capillary wall less than 20 μm. The working electrode was prepared by sputtering Au-films on the outlet of the capillary. The integration of the separation capillary with a complete detection assembly improves the convenience for the routine application of electrochemical measurements in capillary electrophoresis. For a 100-μm-i.d. capillary, the theoretical plate number of catechol and the migration time reproducibility can reach 120,000 and 1.9% RSD, respectively. The linear range exceeds 3 order of magnitude and the detection limit is lower than 0.65 μM.     

Novel coupling mechanism-based imaging approach to scanning electrochemical microscopy for probing the electric field distribution at the microchannel end

A novel coupling mechanism-based imaging approach to scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to image the distribution of electric field at the end channel of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) capillary electrophoresis (CE) microchip in the absence of redox species. The coupling imaging mechanism was systematically investigated and qualitatively illustrated. It was proved that the distribution of solution potentials within the scanning plane caused a different reduction rate of water at the tip electrode, which led to the variation in tip current. Within the scanning plane, the solution potentials measured in the central area of the microchannel were usually higher than those measured outside. The SECM images showed a strong dependence on tip potential, tip-to-channel distance, and separation potential. According to the Tafel equation, SECM images were converted to parameters that directly showed the distribution of solution potential. Change in the solution potential along the central axial line of the microchannel was also continuously sensed by allowing the tip to approach the microchannel in the presence of high voltage. Using dopamine as a model compound, the effect of solution potential on electrochemical detection was estimated by detecting separation parameters.     

Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy for Electrochemical Detection of Single‐base Mismatches by Tagging Ferrocenecarboxylic Acid as a Redox Probe to DNA

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was employed for sensitive detection of single base mismatches (SBMs) in a sandwiched dsDNA. Ferrocenecarboxylic acid (Fc), covalently conjugated to the dsDNA, was oxidized to Fc⁺ via the DNA‐mediated charge transfer from the underlying gold substrate, and reduced back to Fc by SECM tip generated ferrocyanide. The electrocatalytic oxidation of SECM tip‐generated ferrocyanide was sensitive to presence, as well as the type of SBMs. Apparent standard rate constants (k⁰_app) values for different SBMs, both near the electrode surface and far from it, were evaluated by SECM. The method can detect SBMs independent of their position in dsDNA.     

Electrochemical Detection for Capillary Electrophoresis Microchips: A Review

Electrochemistry detection offers considerable promise for capillary‐electrophoresis (CE) microchips, with features that include remarkable sensitivity, portability, independence of optical path length or sample turbidity, low cost and power requirements, and high compatibility with modern micromachining technologies. This article highlights key strategies in controlled‐potential electrochemical detectors for CE microchip systems, along with recent advances and directions. Subjects covered include the design of the electrochemical detection system, its requirements and operational principles, common electrode materials, isolation from the separation voltage, derivatization reactions, typical applications, and future prospects. It is expected that electrochemical detection will become a powerful tool for CE microchip systems and will lead to the creation of truly portable (and possibly disposable) devices.     

Simultaneous Determination of Phenolic Additives in Cosmetics by Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

A micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography method with electrochemical detection (MECC‐ED) has been developed for the simultaneous determination of eight phenolic additives, including propyl gallate (PG), tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), methylparaben (MP), ethylparaben (EP), propylparaben (PP) and butylparaben (BP) in cosmetic products. Method development involved optimization of the working electrode, the pH value of running buffer, the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), the separation voltage, and the sample injection time. Under the optimum conditions, all analytes can be well separated within 26 min at the separation voltage of 18 kV in a 9 mmol·L^?1 sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) ?60 mmol·L^?1 borate running buffer (pH 8.0). A 300 μm diameter carbon disk electrode generated good response at +0.90 V (vs. SCE) for all analytes. Linearity of the present method was over three orders of magnitude of analyte concentration with detection limits (S/N=3) ranging from 1.1×10^?7 to 1.2×10^?6 g·mL^?1 for all analytes. This proposed method has been successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of the above additives in commercial cosmetics, and the assay results were satisfactory.     

Electrochemical Conversion of Magnetic Nanoparticles Using Disposable Working Electrode in a 3D‐Printed Electrochemical Cell

Exploration of new property/function of nanomaterials is always a strong impetus in the nanoscience field. Here, a new method of electrochemical conversion (ECC) of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is proposed to endow MNPs with signal generation ability for sensing. Briefly, high potential was applied to split H₂O to generate acid, while Fe₃O₄ MNPs reacted with H⁺ and produce ferric/ferrous ions, which further reacted with K₄Fe(CN)₆ to yield Prussian blue (PB) through potential cycling. The ECC method worked well on both home‐made and commercial MNPs with different sizes. The generated PB possessed strong electrochemical activity for further applications. Interestingly, an uneven deposition of PB on working electrode and undesired contamination of the reference and counter electrodes were found when using commercial integrated three‐electrode chip. A 3D‐printed electrochemical cell was designed to facilitate the ECC and avoid drawbacks of commercial integrated electrode. The 3D‐printed electrochemical cell was proven to solve the problem above through spatial separation of electrodes and thus facilitated the ECC process. An electrochemical sensor for H₂O₂ detection based on the catalysis ability of ECC‐based PB exhibited a linear response from 5 μM to 1 mM, a high sensitivity of 269 μA mM^?1 cm^?2 and a low detection limit of 0.16 μM (S/N=3), which suggests its promising application prospect in electrochemistry‐related analysis.     

Simultaneous detection of uric acid and glucose on a dual-enzyme chip using scanning electrochemical microscopy/scanning chemiluminescence microscopy

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) and scanning chemiluminescence microscopy (SCLM) were used for imaging an enzyme chip with spatially-addressed spots for glucose oxidase (GOD) and uricase microspots. For the SECM imaging, hydrogen peroxide generated from the GOD and/or uricase spots was directly oxidized at the tip microelectrode in a solution containing glucose and/or uric acid (electrochemical (EC) detection). For the SCLM imaging, a tapered glass capillary (i.d. of 1∼2 μm) filled with luminol and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used as the scanning probe for generating the chemiluminescence (CL). The inner solution was injected from the capillary tip at 78 pl s⁻¹ while scanning above the enzyme-immobilized chip. The CL generated when the capillary tip was scanned above the enzyme spots was detected using a photon-counter (CL detection). Two-dimensional mapping of the oxidation current and photon-counting intensity against the tip position affords images of which their contrast reflects the activity of the immobilized GOD and uricase. For both the EC and CL detections, the signal responses were plotted as a function of the glucose and uric acid concentrations in solution. The sensitivities for the EC and CL detection were found to be comparable.     

中药菟丝子中生物活性成分的毛细管电泳-电化学检测

采用毛细管电泳-电化学检测法(CE-ECD)同时测定了菟丝子中芦丁、金丝桃甙、山柰酚、对香豆酸和槲皮素等5种主要生物活性成分的含量,考察了运行缓冲液酸度和浓度、分离电压、氧化电位和进样时间等实验参数对分离检测的影响。在最佳实验条件下,以直径300 μm的碳圆盘电极为工作电极,检测电位为+950 mV(vs. 参比电极),以50 mmol/L的硼砂缓冲溶液(pH 9.0)为运行缓冲液,上述各组分在19 min内能完全分离。芦丁、金丝桃甙、山柰酚、对香豆酸和槲皮素在两个数量级的范围内呈良好线性关系,检测下限(按S/N=3计) 分别为1.93×10-5,3.55×10-4,3.65×10-5,1.73×10-5和1.46×10-4 g/L。该法已成功地应用于菟丝子中活性成分的分离检测,结果令人满意。     

Development and Characterization of a Disposable Electrochemical Detector Arrangement for Capillary Electrophoresis Prepared by Thermal Lamination

A disposable electrochemical detector arrangement for capillary electrophoresis has been developed. The detection system consists of an assembly of a fused silica capillary and a microfiber electrode which are fixed in a proper position by sealing this configuration with the help of thermal lamination. The detector design is easy to prepare and inexpensive. Therefore it is used as a disposable device which can be replaced by a new one if any degradation of the performance characteristics occurs. The parameters influencing the detection performance were studied and optimized using nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis and ferrocene derivatives as model compounds. The practical utility was demonstrated by studying the separation and detection of water‐resistant dye compounds.