Separation of metal ions and metal-containing species by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, including utilisation of metal ions in separations of other species

The use of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) for the separation of metal ions and metal-containing species is reviewed, together with the use of metal ions as a means to separate other species. Topics covered include the manipulation of separation selectivity through the use of complexation reactions induced by addition of a metal ion to the background electrolyte, enantiomeric separations facilitated through metal-analyte interactions, separation of organometallic species, separation of stable metal complexes in which the entire complex is the analyte and the separation of metal ions as analytes using pre-capillary or on-capillary complexation reactions with a suitable ligand.