Influence of neutral cyclodextrin concentration on plate numbers in capillary electrophoresis

Modeling of anti-Langmuirian peaks in micellar electrokinetic chromatography: Benzene and naphthalene

Peaks of benzene (bz) and naphthalene (np) having diffuse fronts and steep rears under overload conditions were studied quantitatively in MEKC with SDS surfactant. The retardation factors of these compounds, solubilized at microM to mM concentrations by either 10, 30, or 50 mM SDS, were determined by vacancy MEKC and frontal analysis MEKC. Isotherm coordinates were calculated from the retardation factors, and the equation for the concave upward anti-Langmuir isotherm was fit to them. Peak profiles were computed with the MacCormack algorithm from the isotherm fits and a simplified continuity equation appropriate to MEKC. These profiles were compared to ones generated in normal MEKC from samples of bz and np solubilized at muM to mM concentrations by either 10, 30, or 50 mM SDS. In all cases, the anti-Langmuir isotherm described the asymmetry of experimental peaks. For bz in 30 and 50 mM SDS and np in 10 and 50 mM SDS, good to excellent agreement was found between the experimental and predicted profiles. For bz in 10 mM SDS, the experimental profiles were more broadened than the predicted ones, although their asymmetries agreed. For np in 30 mM SDS, the experimental isotherm predicted greater peak asymmetry than was observed, and the correct anti-Langmuir isotherm for all sample concentrations and field strengths was calculated from the most asymmetrical peak by the inverse method. The relative decrease of zone velocity with increasing analyte concentration was calculated from the isotherm parameters, electrokinetic mobilities, retardation factors, surfactant concentrations, and CMC. The simplification of the continuity equation was justified.

Stochastic simulation of reactive separations in capillary electrophoresis

A stochastic (Monte Carlo) simulation is used to investigate thermodynamic and kinetic contributions from the reversible A <--> B reaction in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The effects of equilibrium constant, rate constant, and electrophoretic mobility on the molecular zone profiles and the corresponding statistical moments are evaluated. As the reaction approaches steady state, the velocity of the zone is governed by the equilibrium constant and the electrophoretic mobilities of the reacting molecules. When the equilibrium constant is less than unity, the mean zone velocity is more similar to that of the reactant A. Conversely, when the equilibrium constant is greater than unity, the velocity is more similar to that of the product B. The extent of zone-broadening and asymmetry at steady state is dependent upon the equilibrium constant, the characteristic reaction lifetime, and the electrophoretic mobility difference between reacting molecules. If all other parameters are held constant, the plate height is greatest and skew is least when the equilibrium constant is unity. The plate height increases linearly with the characteristic reaction lifetime and electrophoretic mobility difference, whereas the skew is independent of these parameters. These conclusions have important implications for the elucidation of thermodynamic and kinetic information from experimental data.

Quantitative study of concentration overload, peak asymmetry, and efficiency loss in micellar electrokinetic chromatography

An equation is derived for the velocity of a thin zone of specific analyte concentration in micellar electrokinetic chromatography. The velocity varies with analyte concentration, because micellar solubilization changes electrical conductivity, micellar electrophoretic mobility, and the partitioning of anabyte between mobile and micellar phases. Two studies based on a weakly and a strongly retained neutral analyte are made to test a limiting form of the equation in which the first two changes are ignored. In the first study, peak asymmetries are characterized and plate numbers are measured in two types of experiments: one of fixed surfactant concentration and variable analyte concentration and one of fixed analyte concentration and variable surfactant concentration. In the second study, the isotherm describing both experiment types is measured and interpreted by the Langmuir model to evaluate the velocity equation. The equation of continuity is solved numerically for the peak profiles governed by the velocity equation. In all but one case, a good agreement is found between theoretical and experimental peak asymmetries and plate numbers in both experiment types. An equation is derived for the relative change of analyte velocity caused by the Langmuir isotherm. The change depends on the relative migration time, micellar saturation, and retardation factor. The predicted velocity changes correlate well with peak asymmetries and efficiency losses.