System peaks in capillary zone electrophoresis of anions with negative voltage polarity and counter-electroosmotic flow

Sample plug induced peak splitting in capillary electrophoresis studied using dual backscattered interferometry and fluorescence detection

The appearance of unexpected peaks in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is common and can lengthen the time of method development as assay conditions and experimental parameters are varied to understand and mitigate the effects of the additional peaks. Additional peaks can arise when a single-analyte zone is split into multiple zones. Understanding the underlying mechanism of these phenomena, recognizing conditions that favor its presence, and knowing how to confirm and eliminate the effect are important for efficient method optimization. In this study, we examine how the overlap of analyte zones with the sample plug can lead to peak splitting. This is explored experimentally using dual detection CE, which enables both the sample plug and analyte zones to be independently and simultaneously measured from the same detection volume. Simulations performed via COMSOL Multiphysics confirm the origin of the splitting and help guide experiments to reduce and eliminate the effect. Our findings show that this peak splitting mechanism can arise in separations of both small and large molecules but is, especially, prevalent in separations of slowly migrating macromolecules. This effect is also more prevalent when using a short length-to-detector, as is commonly found in microfluidic applications. A simple diffusion-less model is introduced to develop strategies for reducing peak splitting that avoids modifying the apparatus, such as by lengthening the separation length, which can be difficult. Decreasing the sample plug length and slowing the electroosmotic flow can both reduce this effect, which is confirmed experimentally.

Dynamic computer simulations of electrophoresis: 2010-2020

The transport of components in liquid media under the influence of an applied electric field can be described with the continuity equation. It represents a nonlinear conservation law that is based upon the balance laws of continuous transport processes and can be solved in time and space numerically. This procedure is referred to as dynamic computer simulation. Since its inception four decades ago, the state of dynamic computer simulation software and its use has progressed significantly. Dynamic models are the most versatile tools to explore the fundamentals of electrokinetic separations and provide insights into the behavior of buffer systems and sample components of all electrophoretic separation methods, including moving boundary electrophoresis, CZE, CGE, ITP, IEF, EKC, ACE, and CEC. This article is a continuation of previous reviews (Electrophoresis 2009, 30, S16–S26 and Electrophoresis 2010, 31, 726–754) and summarizes the progress and achievements made during the 2010 to 2020 time period in which some of the existing dynamic simulators were extended and new simulation packages were developed. This review presents the basics and extensions of the three most used one‐dimensional simulators, provides a survey of new one‐dimensional simulators, outlines an overview of multi‐dimensional models, and mentions models that were briefly reported in the literature. A comprehensive discussion of simulation applications and achievements of the 2010 to 2020 time period is also included.