Capillary Electrochromatography: A Powerful Tool for the Resolution of Complex Mixtures

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Abstract
Methods such as capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary liquid chromatography (LC) are particularly useful in the analysis of complex mixtures because of their high resolving power. Continued refinement of these techniques has led to a novel separation method known as capillary electrochromatography (CEC), also referred to as capillary electrokinetic chromatography, which is a combination of capillary LC and conventional CE. As in LC, mobile phase is transported through a column where partitioning of solutes occurs. In CEC, mobile phase flow is generated by electroosmosis, which arises when an electric potential is applied across the long axis of the capillary column. The favorable flow dynamics of electroosmosis result in higher chromatographic efficiencies in CEC relative to LC. If the species of interest are charged, a second separation mechanism is afforded by electrophoresis. CEC combines the high efficiency of capillary electrophoretic separations with the broad range of selectivity obtainable in LC. As such, CEC provides numerous advantages over other separation methods. This study introduces the theory, principles, instrumentation, and applications of this technique.

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