A flow injection-capillary electrophoresis system with high-voltage contactless conductivity detection for automated dual opposite end injection

The system comprises two flow injection-capillary electrophoresis interfaces into which the opposite ends of the separation capillary are inserted. The electrolyte solution flows through both interfaces by use of hydrostatic pressure. The injection of the samples into the electrolyte flow is accomplished by a rotary-type chromatographic valve at the grounded side and by a pinch-valve injector at the high-voltage side that provides sufficient isolation from the high electric field. The system allows a fully automated dual-injection sequence of samples from both capillary ends and simultaneous electrophoretic separation of anions and cations in the samples. The analytes are detected by a high-voltage contactless conductometric detector positioned approximately in the middle of the separation capillary. The parameters of the system were evaluated. The repeatability of the flow injection-capillary electrophoresis system for the simultaneous determination of anions and cations was evaluated for ten consecutive injections and relative standard deviation (RSD) values for peak areas were better than 1.0%. The sample throughput for total ionic analysis was estimated to be 25 samples per hour. The system was used for automated simultaneous analysis of anions and cations in various real samples. Using a short separation capillary, rapid total ionic analysis in less then 1 min is demonstrated.     

Fingerprinting postblast explosive residues by portable capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

A portable capillary electrophoretic system with contactless conductivity detection was used for fingerprint analysis of postblast explosive residues from commercial organic and improvised inorganic explosives on various surfaces (sand, concrete, metal witness plates). Simple extraction methods were developed for each of the surfaces for subsequent simultaneous capillary electrophoretic analysis of anions and cations. Dual‐opposite end injection principle was used for fast (<4 min) separation of 10 common anions and cations from postblast residues using an optimized separation electrolyte composed of 20 mM MES, 20 mM l ‐histidine, 30 μM CTAB and 2 mM 18‐crown‐6. The concentrations of all ions obtained from the electropherograms were subjected to principal component analysis to classify the tested explosives on all tested surfaces, resulting in distinct cluster formations that could be used to verify (each) type of the explosive.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic and organic anions,alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal cations by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection

Simultaneous separation of up to 22 inorganic and organic anions, alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal cations was achieved in less than 3 min in the capillary electrophoresis system with contactless conductometric detector. The sample was injected from both capillary ends (dual opposite end injection) and anionic and cationic species were detected in the center of the separation capillary. The parameters of the separation electrolyte, such as pH, concentration of the electrolyte, concentration of complexing agents and concentration of 18-crown-6 were studied. Best results were achieved with electrolytes consisting of 8 mM L-histidine, 2.8 mM 2-hydroxyisobutyric acid, 0.32 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 4.25 or 9 mM L-histidine, 4.6 mM lactic acid, 0.38 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 4.25. Other electrolytes containing complexing agents such as malic or tartaric acid at various concentrations could also be used. The detection limits achieved for most cations and anions were 7.5 - 62 micro gL(-1) except for Ba2+ (90 micro gL(-1)), Cd 2+, Cr 3+ and F- (125 micro gL(-1)), and fumarate (250 micro gL(-1)). The repeatability of migration times and peak areas was better than 0.4% and 5.9%, respectively. The developed method was applied for analysis of real samples, such as tap, rain, drainage and surface water samples, plant exudates, plant extracts and ore leachates.     

Application of a contactless conductometric detector for the simultaneous determination of small anions and cations by capillary electrophoresis with dual-opposite end injection

A contactless conductometric detection (CCD) system for capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a flexible detection cell was applied for the simultaneous determination of small anions and/or cations in rain, surface and drainage water samples. The applied frequency, the amplitude of the input signal, the electrolyte conductivity and electrode distance were found to be the most significant factors affecting the detection sensitivity. 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid/histidine-based (MES/His) electrolytes were used for direct conductivity detection of anions and cations, while ammonium acetate was selected for indirect conductivity determination of alkylammonium salts. For the simultaneous separation procedure, involving dual-opposite end injection, an electrolyte consisting of 20 mM MES/His, 1.5 mM 18-crown-6 and 20 microM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide provided baseline separation of 13 anions and cations in less than 6 min. The detection limits achieved were 7-30 micrograms/l for direct conductometric detection of various common inorganic cations and anions, excluding F- (62 micrograms/l) and H2PO4- (250 micrograms/l), and 35-178 micrograms/l for indirect conductometric detection of alkyl ammonium cations. The developed electrophoretic method with conductometric detection was compared to ion chromatography.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic cations and anions in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with indirect fluorescence detection

Summary An instrumental configuration for the simultaneous determination of inorganic cations and anions in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is described. The sample is injected into the central part of the capillary by hydrostatic injection. Indirect fluorescence detection is used. The electrolyte system consists of 2,5-dihydrobenzoate as fluorescent anion and cerium(III) as fluorescent cation. This method allows the analysis of both cations and anions without changing the electrolyte system in less than five minutes.     

Capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection coupled to a sequential injection analysis manifold for extended automated monitoring applications

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C⁴D) based on a sequential injection analysis (SIA) manifold was refined. Hydrodynamic injection was implemented to avoid a sampling bias by using a split-injection device based on a needle valve for precise adjustment. For safety and reliability, the integrity of the high voltage compartment at the detection end was fully maintained by implementing flushing of the high voltage interface through the capillary. With this set-up, extended fully automated monitoring applications are possible. The system was successfully tested in the field for the determination of the concentration levels of major inorganic cations and anions in a creek over a period of 5 days.     

A novel method for analysis of explosives residue by simultaneous detection of anions and cations via capillary zone electrophoresis

A novel electrolyte has been developed for the simultaneous separation of cations and anions in low explosive residue by capillary electrophoresis. This electrolyte contains 15 mM α-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HIBA) as the buffer, 6 mM imidazole as the cation chromophore, 3 mM 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid (NTS) as the anion chromophore, 4 mM 18-crown-6 ether as a cation selectivity modifier, and 5% (v/v) acetonitrile as an organic modifier. The pH was adjusted to 6.5 using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), an electroosmotic flow modifier. The method was optimized by varying the concentrations of α-HIBA, imidazole, and 1,3,6-NTS at three different pH values. The results provided a simultaneous indirect photometric analysis of both anions and cations with detection limits ranging from 0.5 to 5 ppm for anions and from 10 to 15 ppm for cations with a total run time of under 7 min. The method was then applied to the analysis of Pyrodex^® RS and black powder, as well as several smokeless powders. The results obtained were consistent with previously reported results for separate anion and cation analysis and provide a faster, more complete analysis of each sample in a single chromatographic run.     

Application of co-electroosmotic capillary electrophoresis for the determination of inorganic anions and carboxylic acids in soil and plant extract with direct UV detection

Summary Indirect UV detection in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) is frequently used for the determination of inorganic anions and carboxylic acids. However, there are few reports on direct UV detection of these solutes in real samples. This paper describes the use of direct UV detection of inorganic anions and organic acids in environmental samples using co-electroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis (co-CZE) at 185 nm. The best separation and detection of the solutes was achieved using a fused silica capillary with an electrolyte containing 25 mM phosphate, 0.5 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and 15% acetonitrile (v/v) at pH 6.0. Four common inorganic anions (Cl⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻) and 11 organic acids (oxalic, formic, fumaric, tartaric, malonic, malic, citric, succinic, maleic, acetic, and lactic acid), were determined simultaneously in 15 min. Linear calibration plots for the test solutes were obtained in the range 0.02–0.5 mM with detection limits ranging from 1–9 μM depending on the analyte. The proposed method was successfully used to determine inorganic anions and carboxylic acids in soil and plant tissue extracts with direct injection of the sample.     

Application of an external contactless conductivity detector for the analysis of beverages by microchip capillary electrophoresis

Quantitative total ionic analysis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages was performed by microchip capillary electrophoresis with external contactless conductivity detection. An electrolyte solution consisting of 10.5 mM histidine, 50 mM acetic acid, and 2 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 4.1 was used for the determination of NH(4) (+), K(+), Ca(2+), Na(+), and Mg(2+). Fast analysis of Cl(-), NO(3) (-), and SO(4) (2-) was achieved in 20 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid /histidine electrolyte solution at pH 6.0 and the simultaneous separation of up to 12 inorganic and organic anions was performed in a solution containing 10 mM His and 7 mM glutamic acid at pH 5.75. Limits of detection ranged from 90 to 250 mug/L for inorganic cations and anions, and from 200 to 2000 mug/L for organic anions and phosphate. Calibration curves showed linear dependencies over one to two orders of magnitude when the stacking effect was minimized by injecting standard solutions prepared in background electrolyte solutions. Total analysis times of 35 and 90 s were achieved for the determination of 5 inorganic cations and for the simultaneous determination of 12 inorganic and organic anions, respectively, which represents a considerable reduction of analysis time compared to conventional separation methods used in food analysis.     

Simultaneous capillary electrophoretic separation of small anions and cations after complexation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

A new approach for simultaneous separation of small inorganic and organic anions and metal cations by capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated. Metal cations in the sample are transformed into their chelates with EDTA and are separated together with the anions using an anionic separation mode. Simultaneous separation of 19 common anions and cations was achieved in about 6 min with the electrolyte containing 5 mM K2CrO4, 3 mM boric acid, 35 microM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and 12 microM EDTA at pH 8. Limits of detection (s/n = 3) were in the range from 4 ppb for Cl- up to 1250 ppb for Cu-EDTA and RSDs of peak areas ranged from 1.4% for Cl- up to 8.5% for Mn-EDTA chelate. The practical applicability of the method was demonstrated on the analysis of anions and cations in various water samples.     

Identification of inorganic ions in post‐blast explosive residues using portable CE instrumentation and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection

Novel CE methods have been developed on portable instrumentation adapted to accommodate a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector for the separation and sensitive detection of inorganic anions and cations in post‐blast explosive residues from homemade inorganic explosive devices. The methods presented combine sensitivity and speed of analysis for the wide range of inorganic ions used in this study. Separate methods were employed for the separation of anions and cations. The anion separation method utilised a low conductivity 70 mM Tris/70 mM CHES aqueous electrolyte (pH 8.6) with a 90 cm capillary coated with hexadimethrine bromide to reverse the EOF. Fifteen anions could be baseline separated in 7 min with detection limits in the range 27–240 μg/L. A selection of ten anions deemed most important in this application could be separated in 45 s on a shorter capillary (30.6 cm) using the same electrolyte. The cation separation method was performed on a 73 cm length of fused‐silica capillary using an electrolyte system composed of 10 mM histidine and 50 mM acetic acid, at pH 4.2. The addition of the complexants, 1 mM hydroxyisobutyric acid and 0.7 mM 18‐crown‐6 ether, enhanced selectivity and allowed the separation of eleven inorganic cations in under 7 min with detection limits in the range 31–240 μg/L. The developed methods were successfully field tested on post‐blast residues obtained from the controlled detonation of homemade explosive devices. Results were verified using ion chromatographic analyses of the same samples.     

On-line simultaneous and rapid separation of anions and cations from a single sample using dual-capillary sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis

A novel capillary electrophoresis (CE) approach has been developed for the simultaneous rapid separation and identification of common environmental inorganic anions and cations from a single sample injection. The method utilised a sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis instrument (SI-CE) with capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detection (C⁴D) constructed in-house from commercial-off-the-shelf components. Oppositely charged analytes from a single sample plug were simultaneously injected electrokinetically onto two separate capillaries for independent separation and detection. Injection was automated and may occur from a syringe or be directly coupled to an external source in a continuous manner. Software control enabled high sample throughput (17 runs per hour for the target analyte set) and the inclusion of an isolation valve allowed the separation capillaries to be flushed, increasing throughput by removing slow migrating species as well as improving repeatability. Various environmental and industrial samples (subjected only to filtering) were analysed in the laboratory with a 3 min analysis time which allowed the separation of 23 inorganic and small organic anions and cations. Finally, the system was applied to an extended automated analysis of Hobart Southern Water tap water for a period of 48 h. The overall repeatability of the migration times of a 14 analyte standard sample was less than 0.74% under laboratory conditions. LODs ranged from 5 to 61 μg L⁻¹. The combination of automation, high confidence of peak identification, and low limits of detection make this a useful system for the simultaneous identification of a range of common inorganic anions and cations for discrete or continuous monitoring applications.     

Light-emitting diode-based indirect fluorescence detection for simultaneous determination of anions and cations in capillary electrophoresis

This report presents simultaneous analysis of cations and anions by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in conjunction with indirect fluorescence detection using a blue light-emitting diode (LED), based on the displacement of fluorescein with anionic EDTA-metal complexes and anions. A new focusing system combined with a plastic lens and a 40x objective was developed and used effectively to focus the diverging beam of the LED on the capillary. The optimum compositions for simultaneous analysis of metal ions and anions are the samples prepared in 5 mM borate, pH 9.2, containing 2 mM EDTA and the background electrolytes (BGEs) consisting of 5 mM borate buffer, 5 microM fluorescein, and 1 microM NaCl at pH 9.2. Using this pre-capillary complexation method, the analysis of a sample containing five metal ions and eight anions was accomplished in 8 min, with the relative standard deviation values for the migration times less than 2.0%. The peak heights against the concentrations of the metal ions and anions are linear in 10-1000 and 50-2000 microM, with correlation coefficients better than 0.998, and 0.982, respectively. The limits of detection at a signal-to-noise ratio 3 of up to 14.6 microM for formate and as low as 3.7 microM for Ni2+. The results of the analyses of pond water and a Chinese herbal soup present the advantages of this method, including simplicity, rapidity, reproducibility, and low costs.     

A Convenient Approach to Simultaneous Analysis of a Pharmaceutical Drug and Its Counter-Ion by CE Using Dual-Opposite End Injection and Contactless Conductivity Detection

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to a capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (C⁴D) was used for the determination in a single analysis of a pharmaceutical drug and its counter-ion. Dual-opposite end injection (DOI) was used to introduce hydrodynamically the analytes at each end of the capillary. No modification of the commercial apparatus is required. After applying the voltage, the cations and anions migrate from each end of the capillary in opposite directions toward the detector placed near the cathode outlet. The electrophoretic conditions were initially developed with three test drugs (chlorpheniramine maleate, metoprolol tartrate, clomiphene citrate) and then applied to two Vinca alkaloids (catharanthine sulfate, vinorelbine ditartrate). The 10 mM histidine–50 mM acetic acid buffer (pH 4.1)–methanol 90:10 (v/v) electrolyte was suitable for the analysis of these high or medium mobile anions by CE–C⁴D due to its low conductivity background and high buffer capacity. Finally, the CE procedure developed was successfully validated for catharanthine sulfate. The method developed herein is fast (<10 min) and accurate (repeatability on migration time < 0.6% and peak areas < 1.3%, n = 6).

     

Use of phosphobetaine-type zwitterionic surfactant for the determination of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions and ammonium ion in human saliva by capillary electrophoresis

With conventional capillary electrophoresis (CE), it was difficult to directly analyze samples containing proteins as a result of the irreversible adsorption of proteins onto the inner surface of the capillary column. This difficulty, however, was completely overcome by adding N-dodecylphosphocholine (DPC, a phosphobetaine-type zwitterionic surfactant) to the background electrolyte (BGE). DPC made two essential contributions to the determination of common inorganic cations in the protein-containing samples: protein adsorption onto the capillary walls was completely avoided, and the resolution of the analyte cations was essentially improved. The optimal BGE for analysis of biological samples was found to be 5 mM DPC, 5 mM copper(II) acetate/10 mM ethylenediamine (pH 8). The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio =3 and UV at 215 nm) of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and ammonium ions were 25, 31, 24, 45, and 60 micro M, respectively. These five species of the common inorganic cations in human saliva samples were detected successfully within 2 min by the proposed system with direct sample injection.     

Optimization of background electrolyte composition for simultaneous contactless conductivity and fluorescence detection in capillary electrophoresis of biological samples

In this article, optimization of BGE for simultaneous separation of inorganic ions, organic acids, and glutathione using dual C⁴D‐LIF detection in capillary electrophoresis is presented. The optimized BGE consisted of 30 mM 2‐[4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)piperazin‐1‐yl]ethanesulfonic acid, 15 mM 2‐amino‐2‐hydroxymethyl‐propane‐1,3‐diol, and 2 mM 18‐crown‐6 at pH 7.2 and allowed simultaneous separation of ten inorganic anions and cations, three organic acids and glutathione in 20 min. The samples were injected hydrodynamically from both capillary ends using the double‐opposite end injection principle. Sensitive detection of anions, cations, and organic acids with micromolar LODs using C⁴D and simultaneously glutathione with nanomolar LODs using LIF was achieved in a single run. The developed BGE may be useful in analyses of biological samples containing analytes with differing concentrations of several orders of magnitude that is not possible with single detection mode.     

Use of disposable open tubular ion exchange pre-columns for in-line clean-up of serum and plasma samples prior to capillary electrophoretic analysis of inorganic cations

A simple analytical system using disposable, open-tubular ion exchange clean-up precolumns coupled in-line to capillary electrophoresis for direct injection of biological samples is presented. The clean-up precolumns were prepared from fused silica capillaries by thermally initiated layer-by-layer polymerization of poly(butadiene-maleic acid) (PBMA) directly on the capillary wall. Typically, 6 cm long precolumns with 4-layers of PBMA were used for sample pretreatment. A robust and reproducible coupling between the precolumn (75 μm ID) and the analytical capillary (50 μm ID) was achieved using an inexpensive, commercially available low dead volume union. No extra dispersion of the analyte zones was observed. Proteins and other high molecular weight compounds from biological sample matrices were retained on the cation-exchanger sites of the precolumn, which eliminated their adsorption on analytical capillary walls and ensured stable electroosmotic flow and migration times of target analytes. Unretained small inorganic cations migrated freely into the analytical capillary for separation and detection. Applicability of the sample clean-up procedure was proved by determination of major inorganic cations in blood serum and plasma samples using capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection. Separations were performed in background electrolyte solution consisting of 15 mM L-arginine, 12.5 mM maleic acid, 3 mM 18-crown-6 at pH 5.5 and repeatabilities of migration times and peak areas were below 1.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Less than 1 μL of biological sample was required for injection.     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, carboxylic and aromatic carboxylic acids by capillary zone electrophoresis with direct UV detection

Co-electroosmotic capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with direct UV detection was developed for simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, carboxylic and aromatic carboxylic acids. These solutes were separated using a 30 mM phosphate buffer containing 1.0 mM tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) and 20% (v/v) acetonitrile at pH of 6.5 and directly detected by UV at 190 nm. Calibration curves were linear in the range 0.01-2.0 mM, depending of the solutes. The detection limits ranged from 1.0 to 8.0 microM and the relative standards deviations (n=5) in range from 1.9 to 3.6% for the peak area. The proposed method was used to determine inorganic anions and carboxylic and aromatic acids in soil and plant tissue extracts.     

Continuous on-line concentration based on dynamic pH junction for trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole by microfluidic capillary electrophoresis combined with flow injection analysis system

A novel, rapid and continuous on-line concentration approach based on dynamic pH junction for the analysis of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) by microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) combined with flow injection analysis is developed in this paper. Stacking is due to decreases in the velocity of analytes when migrating from the low-pH sample zone (sample was dissolved in 50 mM HCl) to a relatively high-pH buffer (30 mM phosphate buffer, pH 8.5) filled in the capillary. This results in 2.9-4.7-fold improvement in concentration sensitivity relative to conventional capillary electrophoresis methods. The separation could be achieved within 2 min and sample throughput rate can reach up to 38 h(-1).     

Enhanced detection of seven glucoconjugated and hydroxylated porphyrins and chlorins by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis combined with stacking

The nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis mode which includes a preconcentration step based on a transient pseudo-isotachophoresis to the simultaneous separation of seven glucoconjugated and hydroxylated porphyrins and chlorins, exhibiting very close structures, is reported. A high methanol content, of the buffer solution, was necessary in order to prevent self-assembly of the compounds and to enhance their solubility during separation. With the addition of 66% (v/v) methanol and 1% (w/v) NaCl in the aqueous sample solution, large volumes could be injected (44% capillary volume) without a loss in resolution. Sensitivity of detection was therefore improved by a 100-fold factor with regard to the method employing normal injection (2% capillary volume). Optimum electrophoretic conditions, in terms of sensitivity and performance, were obtained by using 20 mM phosphoric acid buffer, pH 2.2 and 50% methanol. The method was validated and applied to qualitative analysis of glucoconjugates in serum samples.