Head-column field-amplified sample stacking in a capillary electrophoresis-flow injection system

A simple, effective, and continuous online concentration method for the sensitive detection of alkaloids applying CE-flow injection analysis with head-column field-amplified sample stacking was developed. A series of samples was continuously introduced into the capillary by electrokinetic means without interrupting the high voltage. A short water plug was introduced by the EOF at the capillary inlet end prior to sample introduction. Under optimum conditions, 15-fold improvement in concentration sensitivity was achieved, giving an LOD of about 0.67 and 0.73 microg/mL for ephedrine (E) and pseudoephedrine (PE), respectively. The separation could be achieved within 4 min and sample throughput rate could reach up to 7/h. The repeatability (defined as RSD) was 3.62, 1.51% with peak area evaluation and 1.30, 2.58% with peak height evaluation for E and PE, respectively. This method has been successfully applied to the analysis of commercial pharmaceutical preparations containing E and PE, and the recoveries were 92.3-102.4%.     

Flow injection-capillary electrophoresis system with contactless conductivity detection and hydrostatic pressure generated flow. Application to the quantitative analysis of inorganic anions in water samples

A simple and inexpensive flow injection-capillary electrophoresis (FI-CE) system with contactless conductivity detection (CCD) for automated quantitative analysis of chloride, nitrate, and sulfate in various water samples is demonstrated. A glass bottle containing the background electrolyte that is raised above the FI-CE interface generates a pulse-free, highly reproducible flow of the electrolyte through the FI-CE interface. The system operates at a flow rate of 300 microLmin(-1) with an injection volume of only 4 microL. The repeatability of peak areas (n = 18) was better than 0.81% RSD and the sample throughput was 90 samples per hour using the background electrolyte containing 12 mM L-histidine adjusted to pH 4.00 with acetic acid. The limits of detection were better than 125 microgL(-1) and were comparable to those obtained by conventional CE systems with CCD. Various calibration methods for FI-CE system with electrokinetic injection were tested and their suitability for the analysis of anions in real samples was evaluated.     

Graphene oxide coated capillary for chiral separation by CE

This article describes a new application of graphene oxide (GO) in CE based on the coating of fused silica capillary for chiral separation. The coated capillary was characterized by SEM, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and Raman spectra. The results indicated that the capillary was coated with GO. Chiral separations were carried out in the GO‐coated capillary for the ephedrine–pseudoephedrine (E‐PE) isomers and β‐methylphenethylamine (β‐Me‐PEA) isomers at the optimal buffer conditions without any chiral selector by CE. The precision and reproducibility of GO‐coated capillary were investigated, and the RSDs of migration time (n = 6) for the E‐PE isomers were 1.35–1.41%, and 0.97–3.50% for β‐Me‐PEA isomers, respectively. The LOD for E‐PE isomers and β‐Me‐PEA isomers was 3 μM and 18 μM, respectively.     

Chemometrical examination of active parameters and interactions in flow injection-capillary electrophoresis

The first detailed examination of flow injection-capillary electrophoresis (FI-CE) active parameters and their interactions via response surface methodology (RSM) is presented. Specifically, RSM in the form of a Box-Behnken design was implemented to effectively predict the significance of capillary length, voltage and injection volume on the optimization of an in-house built FI-CE analyzer. Initial studies were performed assessing peak height and peak shape of the model compound N,N-dimethylformamide. Optimum model conditions were then derived and used in the model separation of two small molecules, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form (NADH) and benzenesulfonamide. By implementing the RSM approach, detailed examination of active FI-CE parameters was possible, including the ability to reveal a significant interactive effect. This work is not only highly significant for advancing FI-CE developments, but instructive for investigators actively exploring other coupled analytical techniques and associated experimental parameters.     

Highly sensitive chemiluminescence detection of copper(II) in capillary electrophoresis with field-amplified sample injection

Field-amplified sample injection of copper(II) was investigated using capillary electrophoresis with chemiluminescence detection. The sensitivity of copper(II) has been improved markedly by the field-amplified sample injection technique and the detection limit reaches 2 x 10(-11) M. By injection of a short plug of water before sample introduction, the sensitivity can be further improved 5-fold and the detection limit reaches 4 x 10(-12) M. The relative standard deviations (n = 6) of the migration time and the peak height are 0.61% and 4.7% at 1.0 x 10(-9) M Cu(II), respectively. Parameters affecting the field-amplified sample injection, such as separation voltage and concentration of electrophoretic buffer, have been investigated.     

The combination of flow injection with electrophoresis using capillaries and chips

The combined flow injection capillary electrophoresis (FI-CE) system that integrates the essential favorable merits of FI and CE, can significantly expand the application scope of CE by exploring the various on-line sample pretreatments and preconcentration of FI. The principle behind this technique, some innovative designs of the split-flow interface, as well as novel applications to a variety of analytical problems, are reviewed and discussed. Some salient features and unique advantages of this technique are outlined.     

Characterization of various geometric arrangements of “air-assisted” flow gating interfaces for capillary electrophoresis

For connecting flow-through analytical methods with capillary electrophoresis, a chip working in the air-assisted flow gating interface regime is cast from poly(dimethylsiloxane). In the injection space, the exit from the delivery capillary is placed close to the entrance to the separation capillary. Prior to injecting the sample into the separation capillary, the background electrolyte is forced out of the injection space by a stream of air. In the empty space, a drop of the sample with a volume of <100 nL is formed between the exit from the delivery capillary and the entrance into the separation capillary, from which the sample is injected hydrodynamically into the separation capillary. After injection, the injection space is filled with BGE, and the separation can be begun. Three geometric variants for the mutual geometric arrangement of the delivery and separation capillaries were tested: the delivery capillary is placed perpendicular to the separation capillary, from either above or below, or the capillaries are placed axially, that is, directly opposite one another. All of the variants are equivalent from the analytical and separation efficiency viewpoints. The repeatability expressed by RSD is up to 5%. The tested flow gating interface variants are also suitable for continuous and discontinuous sampling at flow rates of the order of units of μL/min. The developed instrument for sequential electrophoretic analysis operates fully automatically and is suitable for rapid sequential monitoring of dynamic processes.     

Effect of NaOH on large-volume sample stacking of haloacetic acids in capillary zone electrophoresis with a low-pH buffer

Large-volume sample stacking (LVSS) is an effective on-capillary sample concentration method in capillary zone electrophoresis, which can be applied to the sample in a low-conductivity matrix. NaOH solution is commonly used to back-extract acidic compounds from organic solvent in sample pretreatment. The effect of NaOH as sample matrix on LVSS of haloacetic acids was investigated in this study. It was found that the presence of NaOH in sample did not compromise, but rather help the sample stacking performance if a low pH background electrolyte (BGE) was used. The sensitivity enhancement factor was higher than the case when sample was dissolved in pure water or diluted BGE. Compared with conventional injection (0.4% capillary volume), 97-120-fold sensitivity enhancement in terms of peak height was obtained without deterioration of separation with an injection amount equal to 20% of the capillary volume. This method was applied to determine haloacetic acids in tap water by combination with liquid-liquid extraction and back-extraction into NaOH solution. Limits of detection at sub-ppb levels were obtained for real samples with direct UV detection.     

pH-mediated acid stacking with reverse pressure for the analysis of cationic pharmaceuticals in capillary electrophoresis

When using capillary electrophoresis (CE) for the analysis of biological samples, it is often necessary to employ techniques to overcome peak-broadening that results from having a high-conductivity sample matrix. To improve the concentration detection limits and separation efficiency of cationic pharmaceuticals in CE, pH-mediated acid stacking was performed to electrofocus the sample, improving separation sensitivity for the analyzed cations by 60-fold. However, this method introduces a large titrated acid plug into the capillary. To overcome the limitations this low-conductivity plug poses to stacking, the plug was removed prior to the separation step by applying reverse pressure to force it out of the anode of the capillary. Employing this technique allows for roughly twice the volume of sample to be injected. A maximum sample injection time of 240 s was attainable with baseline peak resolution compared to a maximum sample injection time of 120 s without reverse pressure, leading to a twofold decrease in the limits of detection of the analytes used. Separation efficiency overall is also improved when utilizing the reverse pressure step. For example, a 60 s sample injection time results in 94,000 theoretical plates as compared to 60,500 theoretical plates without reverse pressure. This reverse-pressure method was used for detection and quantitation of several cationic pharmaceuticals that were prepared in Ringer's solution to simulate microdialysis sampling conditions.     

Field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for on-column concentration of alkaloids in Sophora flavescens Ait

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the separation of the main alkaloids from Sophora flavescens Ait. with the optimum buffer solution containing 110 mM NaH(2)PO(4) and 15% 2-propanol (pH 3.0). The field-amplified sample stacking (FASS) technique was applied to the on-line concentration of the alkaloids. The data presented in this work demonstrate that the use of a short water plug at the column inlet is essential for improving the reproducibility of FASS with electro-injection, and that the water plug injection time affected the sensitivity significantly. The sample concentration was further increased by about 2-3-fold by the introduction of a relatively longer water plug. With this stacking measure, the concentration sensitivity was about 3-4 orders of magnitude higher than in hydrodynamic injection.     

Optimization of dynamic pH junction for the sensitive determination of amino acids in urine by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis method with UV-absorbance detection was studied and optimized for the determination of underivatized amino acids in urine. To improve concentration sensitivity the utility of in-capillary analyte stacking via dynamic pH junction was investigated with phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr) as model amino acids. Before sample injection, a plug of ammonium hydroxide solution was injected to enable analyte concentration. Samples were 1:1 (v/v) mixed with background electrolyte (1 M formic acid) prior to injection. The effect of the injected sample volume, and the injected ammonium hydroxide volume and concentration on analyte stacking and separation performance was investigated. The optimal volume of ammonium hydroxide depended on the injected sample volume. Using a dynamic pH junction good resolution (1.4) was obtained for a sample injection volume of 10% of the capillary (196 nl) with Phe and Tyr dissolved in water. Limits of detection (LODs) were 0.036 and 0.049 μM for Phe and Tyr, respectively. For urine samples, the optimized procedure comprised a 1.7-nl injection of 12.5% ammonium hydroxide, followed by a 196-nl injection of urine spiked with Phe and Tyr. Satisfactory resolution was obtained and amino acid peak widths at half height were only 1.6 s indicating efficient stacking. Calibration plots for Phe and Tyr in urine showed good linearity (R(2) > 0.96) in the concentration range 10-175 μM, and LODs for Phe and Tyr were 0.054 and 0.019 μM, respectively. RSDs for peak area and migration time for Phe and Tyr were below 7.5% and 0.75%, respectively.     

Micelle to solvent stacking of organic cations in micellar electrokinetic chromatography with sodium dodecyl sulfate

The on-line sample concentration technique, micelle to solvent stacking (MSS), was studied for small organic cations (quaternary ammonium herbicides, β-blocker drugs, and tricyclic antidepressant drugs) in reversed migration micellar electrokinetic chromatography. Electrokinetic chromatography was carried out in fused silica capillaries with a background solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in a low pH phosphate buffer. MSS was performed using anionic SDS micelles in the sample solution for analyte transport and methanol or acetonitrile as organic solvent in the background solution for analyte effective electrophoretic mobility reversal. The solvent also allowed for the separation of the analyte test mixtures. A model for focusing and separation was developed and the mobility reversal that involved micelle collapse was experimentally verified. The effect of analyte retention factor was observed by changing the % organic solvent in the background solution or the concentration of SDS in the sample matrix. With an injection length of 31.9 cm (77% of effective capillary length) for the 7 test drugs, the LODs (S/N=3) of 5-14 ng/mL were 101-346-fold better when compared to typical injection. The linearity (R(2), range=0.025-0.8 μg/mL), intraday and interday repeatability (%RSD, n=10) were ≥0.988, <6.0% and <8.5%, respectively. In addition, analysis of spiked urine samples after 10-fold dilution with the sample matrix yielded LODs=0.02-0.10 μg/mL. These LODs are comparable to published electrophoretic methods that required off-line sample concentration. However, the practicality of the technique for more complex samples will rely on dedicated sample preparation schemes.     

Analysis of large-volume DNA markers and polymerase chain reaction products by capillary electrophoresis in the presence of electroosmotic flow

We have demonstrated on-line concentration and separation of DNA in the presence of electroosmotic flow (EOF) using poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solutions. After injecting large-volumes DNA samples, PEO solutions entered a capillary filled with 400 mM Tris-borate (TB) buffers by EOF and acted as sieving matrices. DNA fragments stacked between the sample zone and PEO solutions. Because sample matrixes affected PEO adsorption on the capillary wall, leading to changes in EOF, migration time, concentration, and resolving power varied with the injection length. When injecting phiX174 RF DNA-HaeIII digest prepared in 5 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.0, at 250 V/cm, peak height increased linearly as a function of injection volume up to 0.9 microl (injection time 150 s). The sensitivity improvement was 100-fold compare to that injected at 25 V/cm for 10 s (0.006 microl). When injecting 1.54 microl of GeneScan 1000 ROX, the sensitivity improvement was 265-fold. The sensitivity improvement was 40-fold when injecting 0.17 microl DNA sample containing pBR 322/HaeIII, pBR 328/BglI, and pBR 328/HinfI digests prepared in phosphate-buffered saline. This method allows the analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products amplified after 17 cycles when injecting 0.32 microl (at 30 cm height for 300 s). The total analysis time was shorter (91.6 min) than that (119.6 min) obtained from injecting PCR products after 32 cycles for 10 s.     

Large-volume stacking with polarity switching and sweeping for chlorophenols and chlorophenoxy acids in capillary electrophoresis

This paper describes approaches for stacking large volumes of sample solutions containing a mixture of chlorophenols and chlorophenoxyacetic acids as their anions in capillary zone electrophoresis, and compares results to standard capillary electrophoresis (CE) and normal stacking modes. In order to increase the amount of sample injected beyond the optimal conditions and maintain high resolution, the sample introduction buffer must be removed after the stacking process is completed. This is achieved by pumping the sample buffer out of the column using polarity switching. Large sample volumes are loaded by hydrodynamic injection, then stacked at the injection buffer/run electrolyte interface, followed by the removal of the large plug of low-conductivity sample matrix from the capillary column using polarity switching and finally the separation of the stacked anions in a basic buffer (pH 8.65). Around 10- and 40-fold improvement of sensitivity was achieved by normal stacking and large-volume stacking with polarity switching, respectively, when compared to the standard CE analysis. Sweeping-micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) was also investigated for the purpose of comparison to the stacking technique. The method should be suitable for the analysis of these chemical compound classes in industrial chlorophenoxyacetic acid manufacture.     

Online preconcentration by electrokinetic supercharging for sensitive determination of berberine and jatrorrhizine in biological samples

Electrokinetic supercharging, a convenient and powerful online preconcentration technique in capillary electrophoresis, was introduced and evaluated for the determination of two alkaloids, berberine and jatrorrhizine, in mice fecal samples for the first time. The method depended on using a bare fused silica capillary (50 cm × 50 μm i.d.) and applying the voltage of 25 kV with UV detection at 205 nm. Parameters that affect the separation and preconcentration efficiency have been optimized. The optimum conditions used were as follows: background electrolyte consisting of 40mM sodium dihydrogenphosphate containing 30% methanol (v/v); hydrodynamic injection of 20mM KCl (50 mbar × 150 s) as the leading electrolyte; electrokinetic injection of the sample (+15 kV, 120 s) followed by the hydrodynamic injection of 30mM dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (50 mbar × 12 s) as the terminating electrolyte. The results showed that the detection sensitivity of berberine and jatrorrhizine was, respectively, improved up 2740- and 2928-fold compared with normal injection, providing limits of detection lower than 3 ng/mL with good repeatability in areas (relative standard deviation < 3%). In summary, the developed method proved its ability in analyzing trace alkaloids in complicated biological samples.     

Field-amplified on-line sample stacking for determination of carnosine-related peptides by capillary electrophoresis

An on-line sample stacking method, namely field-amplified sample injection, has been developed for the separation and determination of carnosine, anserine, and homocarnosine by capillary electrophoresis. Using electrokinetic injection, about 130- to 160-fold improvement of sensitivity was achieved without loss of separation efficiency when compared to conventional sample injection. For conventional injection, the samples were dissolved in running buffer and then hydrodynamically injected for 10 s (3.45 kPa). Various parameters affecting separation and sample stacking were optimized. Under optimum conditions, linear responses were obtained over two orders of magnitude and the detection limits (defined as S/N = 3) of carnosine, anserine, and homocarnosine were 1.5 x 10(-8) to 1.6 x 10(-8) mol/L.     

场放大进样-毛细管区带电泳法高灵敏检测三聚氰胺

建立了基于水塞联用场放大进样(FESI)的区带毛细管电泳(CZE)检测多种样品中三聚氰胺的分析方法。水塞组成为40%乙腈和60%水,水塞进入时间200 s,进水压力3 kPa。以120 mmol/L NaH2PO4缓冲液(pH 2.2)-10%甲醇为运行缓冲溶液,以0.10 mmol/L NaH2PO4(pH 2.2)-20%乙腈为样品基体溶液,进样电压20 kV,进样时间80 s,分离电压20 kV。在优化实验条件下,与普通的CZE法比较,三聚氰胺的紫外检测灵敏度提高了800倍,检出限(S/N=3)由2.0 mg/L降至2.5μg/L,线性范围为10～1 000μg/L。将该方法用于多种样品中三聚氰胺残留的检测,回收率为98%～106%,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=4)均不高于5.1%。该方法克服了紫外检测灵敏度低的缺陷,具有检测灵敏、简便易行、预处理简单、干扰少、经济环保和适用范围广等优点。     

A novel hybrid mode of sample injection to enhance CZE sensitivity for simultaneous determination of a pyridine-triphenylborane anti-fouling agent and its degradation products

We developed a novel hybrid sample injection mode (HSIM) that presents the combination of electrokinetic injection and vacuum injection to enhance detection sensitivity in CZE. Samples were introduced using both vacuum and electrokinetic injections simultaneously, with a water plug injected into the capillary prior to sample introduction (i.e. similarly to field-amplified sample injection, FASI). Using a sample mixture containing an anti-fouling agent applied to ship hulls, pyridine-triphenylborane and its degradation products (diphenylborinic acid, phenylboronic acid, and phenol) dissolved in ACN, the length of water plug, time, and voltage for sample introduction were optimized. The signal intensity (peak height) was found to be up to a 30-fold increased using HSIM by applying 4 kV for 4 s at the inlet end of the capillary as the cathode with supplementary vacuum in comparison with only vacuum injection for 4 s. The LODs (at a S/N of 3) for pyridine-triphenylborane, diphenylborinic acid, phenylboronic acid, and phenol were 0.88, 1.0, 21, and 23 μg/L, respectively. At the level of 0.04 mg/L, the RSDs (n=4, intra-day) for the above analytes were in the ranges of 1.9-11, 4.3-9.2, and 0.34-0.66% for peak area, peak height, and migration time, respectively. The HSIM is a simple and promising procedure useful for enhancing the sensitivity for both low-and high-mobility ions in CZE.     

Measurement of carnosine, homocarnosine and anserine by FASI capillary electrophoresis UV detection: applications on biological samples

A field amplified sample injection (FASI) capillary electrophoresis method with UV detection was developed for the separation and detection of carnosine-related peptides carnosine (Car), anserine (Ans) and homocarnosine (Hcar). The imidazole dipeptides were baseline-separated within 10 min by using 50 mmol/L Tris phosphate pH 2.2 as running buffer. The samples were diluted in water and directly injected on the capillary without complex cleanup and/or sample derivatization procedures. Using the electrokinetic injection, a sensitivity improvement of about 500-fold was achieved without any loss of separation efficiency if compared to the conventional sample injection. The detection limits for carnosine, anserine, and homocarnosine were between 0.4 and 0.5 nmol/L, thus improving of 10-100-fold the LOD of previous described methods based on laser induced fluorescence or chemiluminescence detection. This method has been applied to the analysis of homogenized rat tissue (heart, muscle and brain) and human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).     

Capillary electrochromatography of three β2-agonists in human urine using a lauryl methacrylate-based monolithic column

A new method of online concentration capillary electrochromatography using a lauryl methacrylate-based monolithic column was developed for determination of three β(2)-agonists including salbutamol, procaterol, and formoterol. The separation parameters including acetonitrile concentration, running buffer pH, and concentration were evaluated. To improve the sensitivity, an online concentration method with combination of the chromatographic zone-sharpening effect and field-enhanced sample-stacking effect has been developed in which the concentration parameters including injection voltage, injection time, as well as sample matrix were systematically studied. Under the optimized conditions, baseline separation of three β(2)-agonists was achieved within 4 min. When compared to the conventional sample injection, this online concentration technique increased their corresponding sensitivities up to 45-, 36-, and 320-fold, respectively. Furthermore, good repeatability was obtained with relative standard deviations (RSDs) for migration times within 0.84% and those for peak areas less than 6.35% (n = 5) in the experiment. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of above-mentioned β(2)-agonists in urine sample. The recoveries of spiked urine samples were between 82.4% and 109.1% with RSDs less than 9.97%.