Separation of acidic compounds by strong anion-exchange capillary electrochromatography

Development of a capillary zone electrophoresis method to monitor magnesium ion consumption during in vitro transcription for mRNA production

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines represent a landmark in vaccinology, especially with their success in COVID-19 vaccines, which have shown great promise for future vaccine development and disease prevention. As a platform technology, synthetic mRNA can be produced with high fidelity using in vitro transcription (IVT). Magnesium plays a vital role in the IVT process, facilitating the phosphodiester bond formation between adjacent nucleotides and ensuring accurate transcription to produce high-quality mRNA. The development of the IVT process has prompted key inquiries about in-process characterization of magnesium ion (Mg++) consumption, relating to the RNA polymerase (RNAP) activation, fed-batch mode production yield, and mRNA quality. Hence, it becomes crucial to monitor the free Mg++ concentration throughout the IVT process. However, no free Mg++ analysis method has been reported for complex IVT reactions. Here we report a robust capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with indirect UV detection. The assay allows accurate quantitation of free Mg++ for the complex IVT reaction where it is essential to preserve IVT samples in their native-like state during analysis to avoid dissociation of bound Mg complexes. By applying this CZE method, the relationships between free Mg++ concentration, the mRNA yield, and dsRNA impurity level were investigated. Such mechanistic understanding facilitates informed decisions regarding the quantity and timing of feeding starting materials to increase the yield. Furthermore, this approach can serve as a platform method for analyzing the free Mg++ in complex sample matrices where preserving the native-like state of Mg++ binding is key for accurate quantitation.

Recent developments of monolithic and open-tubular capillary electrochromatography (2017-2019)

Capillary electrochromatography, which combined the high selectivity of high-performance liquid chromatography and the high separation efficiency of capillary electrophoresis, is an attractive separation tool. In this review, the developments on monolithic and open tubular capillary electrochromatography during 2017 to August 2019 are summarized. Considering the development of novel stationary phases is the most active research field in capillary electrochromatography, monolithic capillary electrochromatography is classified according to the polymer-based and hybrid monolithic columns, while open-tubular capillary electrochromatography is categorized by cyclodextrin, silica, polymer, nanomaterials, microporous materials, and biomaterials-based open tubular columns.

Preparation and characterization of hybrid-silica monolithic column with mixed-mode of hydrophilic and strong anion-exchange interactions for pressurized capillary electrochromatography

A novel organic-silica hybrid monolithic stationary phase with a mixed-mode of hydrophilic and strong anion-exchange interactions (HI-SAX) was prepared with a modified "one-pot" process of functional monomers and alkoxysilanes. Using a hydrosoluble initiator 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AIBA), the homogeneous prepolymerization system of this hybrid monolith was successfully obtained by a simple operation. The polycondensation of alkoxysilanes (tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and vinyl-trimethoxysilane (VTMS)) and the in situ copolymerization of a quaternary ammonium group-containing acrylic monomer ([2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethyl ammonium methyl sulfate (AETA)) on the precondensed siloxanes were achieved. The morphologies of the hybrid-silica monolithic matrixes were observed by SEM, and the performances of the organic-silica hybrid monolithic columns were investigated by pressurized capillary electrochromatography. The mechanical stability and reproducibility of the obtained hybrid monolithic column preformed acceptable. Both hydrophilic interaction chromatography mechanism and strong anion-exchanged interaction were investigated. A mixed mode of HI-SAX was obtained for the analysis of nucleotides with a good resolution, and the separation of polar and basic nucleic acid bases and nucleosides was also achieved without peak tailing.

Ordered, mesoporous metal phosphonate materials with microporous crystalline walls for selective separation techniques

Ordered, hexagonal, mesoporous metal (Ti, Zr, V, Al)-phosphonate materials with microporous crystalline walls are synthesized through a microwave-assisted procedure by using triblock copolymer F127 as the template. Corresponding metal chlorides and ethylene diamine tetra(methylene phosphonic acid) are chosen as the inorganic precursors and the coupling molecule, respectively. X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, N(2) sorption, and thermogravimetry measurements confirm that the obtained metal phosphonates possess a hierarchically porous structure with pore sizes of 7.1-7.5 nm and 1.3-1.7 nm for mesopores and micropores, respectively, and the metal phosphonate materials are thermally stable up to around 450 °C with the pore structure and hybrid framework well preserved. Magic angle spinning NMR, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicate that the phosphonate groups are homogenously incorporated into the hybrid framework of the obtained materials. For the first time, the mesoporous hybrid materials are employed as the stationary phase in open tubular capillary electrochromatography technique for the separation of various substances including acidic, basic, and neutral compounds. These materials show good selectivity and reproducibility for this application.

Sulfoalkylbetaine-based monolithic column with mixed-mode of hydrophilic interaction and strong anion-exchange stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography

A novel monolithic stationary phase with mixed mode of hydrophilic and strong anion exchange (SAX) interactions based on in situ copolymerization of pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA), N,N-dimethyl-N-methacryloxyethyl N-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium betaine (DMMSA) and a selected quaternary amine acrylic monomer was designed as a multifunctional separation column for CEC. Although the zwitterionic functionalities of DMMSA and hydroxy groups of PETA on the surface of the monolithic stationary phase functioned as the hydrophilic interaction (HI) sites, the quaternary amine acrylic monomer was introduced to control the magnitude of the EOF and provide the SAX sites at the same time. Three different quaternary amine acrylic monomers were tested to achieve maximum EOF velocity and highest plate count. The fabrication of the zwitterionic monolith (designated as HI and SAX stationary phase) was carried out when [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate was used as the quaternary amine acrylic monomer. The separation mechanism of the monolithic column was discussed in detail. For charged analytes, a mixed mode of HI and SAX was observed by studying the influence of mobile phase pH and salt concentration on their retentions on the poly(PETA-co-DMMSA-co-[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate) monolithic column. The optimized monolith showed good separation performance for a range of polar analytes including nucleotides, nucleic acid bases and nucleosides, phenols, estrogens and small peptides. The column efficiencies greater than 192 000 theoretical plates/m for estriol and 135 000 theoretical plates/m for charged cytidine were obtained.

Silica-based zwitterionic monolithic stationary phase for separation of neutral and ionized solutes using pressurized CEC

A porous zwitterionic monolith was prepared by in situ covalent attachment of lysine to a gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethosysilane-modified silica monolith. The prepared column was used to perform neutral and ionized solutes separations by pressurized (pCEC). Due to the zwitterionic nature of the resulting stationary phase, the monolithic column provided both electrostatic attraction and repulsion sites for electrochromatographic retention for ionized solutes. Separation of several nucleotides was investigated on the monolithic column. It was shown that the nucleotides could be separated based on hydrophilic and electrostatic interactions between the stationary phase and analyte. Besides, the separation property of the zwitterionic silica monolith was compared with the use of diamine-bonded silica monolith as stationary phase. As expected, the lysine monolith exhibited a lower retention for the five nucleotides, which was due to the dissociation of the external carboxylic acid groups, leading to electrostatic repulsion with negatively charged solutes. Under the same experimental conditions, separation of the five nucleotides on the zwitterionic column was in less than 8 min, while that on the diamine column was in approximately 60 min.

Preparation of a mixed-mode hydrophilic interaction/anion-exchange polymeric monolithic stationary phase for capillary liquid chromatography of polar analytes

A novel cationic hydrophilic interaction monolithic stationary phase based on the copolymerization of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium methyl sulfate (META) and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) in a binary porogenic solvent consisting of cyclohexanol/ethylene glycol was designed for performing capillary liquid chromatography. While META functioned as both the ion-exchange sites and polar ligand provider, the PETA, a trivinyl monomer, was introduced as cross-linker. The monolithic stationary phases with different properties were easily prepared by adjusting the amount of META in the polymerization solution as well as the composition of the porogenic solvent. The hydrophilicity of the monolith increased with increasing content of META in the polymerization mixture. A typical hydrophilic interaction chromatography mechanism was observed when the content of acetonitrile in the mobile phase was higher than 20%. The poly(META-co-PETA) monolith showed very good selectivity for neutral, basic and acidic polar analytes. For polar-charged analytes, both hydrophilic interaction and electrostatic interaction contributed to their retention. Peak tailing of basic compounds was avoided and the efficient separation of benzoic acid derivatives was obtained.

Ionic conductance of nanopores in microscale analysis systems: where microfluidics meets nanofluidics

In this tutorial review we illustrate the origin and dependence on various system parameters of the ionic conductance that exists in discrete nanochannels as well as in nanoporous separation and preconcentration units contained as hybrid configurations, membranes, packed beds, or monoliths in microscale liquid phase analysis systems. A particular complexity arises as external electrical fields are superimposed on internal chemical and electrical potential gradients for tailoring molecular transport. It is demonstrated that the variety of geometries in which the microfluidic/nanofluidic interfaces are realized share common, fundamental features of coupled mass and charge transport, but that phenomena behind the key steps in a particular application can be significantly tuned, depending on the morphology of a material. Thus, the understanding of morphology-related transport in internal and external electrical potential gradients is critical to the performance of a device. This addresses a variety of geometries (slits, channels, filters, membranes, random or regular networks of pores, etc.) and applications, e. g., the gating, sensing, preconcentration, and separation in multifunctional miniaturized devices. Inherently coupled mass and charge transport through ion-permselective (charge-selective) microfluidic/nanofluidic interfaces is analyzed with a stepwise-added complexity and discussed with respect to the morphology of the charge-selective spatial domains. Within this scenario, the electrostatics and electrokinetics in microfluidic and nanofluidic channels, as well as the electrohydrodynamics evolving at microfluidic/nanofluidic interfaces, where microfluidics meets nanofluidics, define the platform of central phenomena.

Preparation of polymethacrylate monolithic stationary phases having bonded octadecyl ligands and sulfonate groups: electrochromatographic characterization and application to the separation of polar solutes for pressurized capillary electrochromatography

In this report, the preparation of porous polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns by in situ copolymerization of octadecyl methacrylate (OMA), 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate (SPMA) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in a binary porogenic solvent consisting of cyclohexanol/1,4-butanediol are proposed. These monoliths possess in their structures bonded octadecyl ligands and sulfonate groups and are evaluated in pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) system using small neutral and charged solutes. While the sulfonate groups are meant to generate the electroosmotic flow (EOF) necessary for transporting the mobile phase through the monolithic capillary; the octadecyl ligands are introduced to provide the nonpolar sites for chromatographic retention for neutral solutes. However, incorporating the sulfonate groups in the monoliths does not only support the EOF but also exhibit hydrophilic interaction as well as electrostatic interaction/repulsion with the monoliths in addition to electrophoretic migration with polar charged solutes (e.g., nucleotides). The monolithic stationary phases at different EOF velocities are easily prepared by altering the amount of SPMA in the polymerization solution as well as the composition of the porogenic solvent. Optimum EOF velocity, the highest efficiency and adequate chromatographic retention are obtained when 0.6% SPMA is added to the reaction mixture. Under these conditions, rapid separation and high plate counts reaching greater than 170,000 plates/m are readily obtained.

Theory and practical understanding of the migration behavior of proteins and peptides in CE and related techniques

CEC is defined as an analytical method, where the analytes are separated on a chromatographic column in the presence of an applied voltage. The separation of charged analytes in CEC is complex, since chromatographic interaction, electroosmosis and electrophoresis contribute to the experimentally observed behavior. The putative contribution of effects such as surface electrodiffusion has been suggested. A sound theoretical treatment incorporating all effects is currently not available. The question of whether the different effects contribute in an independent or an interdependent manner is still under discussion. In this contribution, the state-of-the-art in the theoretical description of the individual contributions as well as models for the retention behavior and in particular possible dimensionless 'retention factors' is discussed, together with the experimental database for the separation of charged analytes, in particular proteins and peptides, by CEC and related techniques.

Separation of basic and acidic compounds by capillary electrochromatography using monolithic silica capillary columns with zwitterionic stationary phase

A novel monolithic silica column with zwitterionic stationary phase was prepared by in-situ covalent attachment of phenylalanine to a 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane-modified silica monolith. Due to the zwitterionic nature of the resulting stationary phase, the density and sign of the net surface charge, and accordingly the direction and magnitude of electroosmotic flow in this column during capillary electrochromatography could be manipulated by adjusting the pH values of the mobile phase. CEC separations of various acidic and basic compounds were performed on the prepared column in anodic and weakly cathodic EOF modes, respectively. The peak tailing of basic compounds in CEC on a silica column could be alleviated at optimized buffer compositions. Besides the electrophoretic mechanism and weak hydrophobic interaction, weak cation- and anion-exchange interactions are also involved in the separations of acids and bases, respectively, on the zwitterionic column.

Monolithic silica columns with mixed mode of hydrophilic interaction and weak anion-exchange stationary phase for pressurized capillary electrochromatography

A silica-based monolithic column as polar stationary phase is proposed for pressurized CEC (pCEC). The monolithic silica matrix from a sol-gel process was chemically modified by 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane to produce a column for hydrophilic interaction applications. The amino groups on the surface of the polar stationary phase generated anodic EOF under acidic conditions and served at the same time as a weak anion-exchanger. The anion solutes such as nucleotides were separated by the mixed mode mechanism, which comprised hydrophilic interaction, weak anion-exchange, and electrophoresis. The influences of buffer concentration and organic modifier content on the separation of nucleotides by pCEC have been investigated. In addition, the monolithic silica columns were also able to separate various polar compounds such as phenols, nucleic acid bases, and nucleosides in the hydrophilic interaction CEC mode.

Hybrid silica monolithic column for capillary electrochromatography with enhanced cathodic electroosmotic flow

A hybrid silica monolithic stationary phase for RP CEC was prepared by in situ co-condensation of (3-mercaptopropyl)-trimethoxysilane (MPTMS), phenyltriethoxysilane (PTES), and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) via a sol-gel process. The thiol groups on the surface of the stationary phase were oxidized to sulfonic acids by peroxytrifluoroacetic acid. The introduced sulfonic acid moieties on the monoliths were characterized by a strong and relatively stable EOF in a broad pH range from 2.35 to 7.0 in CEC. Aromatic acids and neutral compounds can be simultaneously separated in this column under cathodic EOF. The CEC column exhibited a typical RP chromatographic mechanism for neutral compounds due to the introduced phenyl groups.

Reversed-phase and weak anion-exchange mixed-mode silica-based monolithic column for capillary electrochromatography

A silica-based CEC monolithic column with mixed modes of RP and weak anion-exchange (WAX) was successfully prepared by using the sol-gel technique at mild temperature. The synthesizing procedure was optimized by changing the ratios of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and octyltriethoxysilane (C(8)-TEOS) in the mixture. While serving as WAX group, the amino group dominated the charge on the surface of the capillary column and generated an EOF from cathode to anode at low pH. At pH above 7.5, a cathodic EOF was observed due to the full ionization of silanol group and the suppression in the ionization of amino group. The morphology of monolithic columns was examined by SEM, and the performance of column was evaluated in detail by separating different kinds of compounds. As expected, the monolithic column exhibited RP chromatographic behavior for neutral solutes. Fast and efficient separation of six aromatic acids was obtained using acidic mobile phase with column efficiency up to 160,000 plates/m. Symmetrical peaks can be obtained for aromatic amines because positively charged amino groups on the surface can effectively minimize the adsorption of positively charged analytes to the stationary phase.

Separation of small peptides by electrochromatography on silica-based reversed phases and hydrophobic anion exchange phases

Peptide separations are regarded as a promising application of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and, at the same time, a suitable model to elucidate its mixed separation mechanism when charged analytes are involved. In this paper, studies on the separation of small peptides (2-4 amino acids) on a Spherisorb octadecyl silane (ODS) phase at acidic pH and on a strong anion exchange (SAX)/C18 mixed mode phase at weakly basic pH are reported. For the ODS phase a comparison of CEC, capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) under identical buffer/eluent conditions is presented. The predicted retention factors for CEC under the assumption of simple superposition of HPLC retention and CZE migration matched the measured results for the peptides that had small retention factors in HPLC. For both types of stationary phases, a variation of the acetonitrile content in the mobile phase led to a wide range of retention factors, including negative values when co-electroosmotic migration was dominant. Though both the ODS and the SAX/C18 phase offer unique advantages, the SCX/C18 phase at pH 9 provides more flexibility to alter separation selectivity for the selected peptides.

Retention behaviour of peptides in capillary electrochromatography using an embedded ammonium in dodecacyl stationary phase

The potential of a silica stationary phase bearing an embedded cationic quaternary amine in dodecacyl chain, to separate peptides by capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has been evaluated. The ability of this stationary phase, to generate a consistent anodic electroosmotic flow was first evaluated. This flow was found to be independent of pH over a wide range (2-12), of the acetonitrile percentage in the electrolyte. The stability of the stationary phase evaluated through the electroosmotic flow variations was demonstrated at extreme pH values (2.5 and 9.1). A careful examination of the influence of mobile phase conditions (acetonitrile percentage, salt concentration and nature of buffer) on the electrochromatographic retention and electrophoretic migration behaviour of different standard peptides was carried out. In acidic conditions, the electrokinetic contribution appears to be predominant compared to the chromatographic one. Several types of chromatographic interactions, reversed-phase partitioning and anion exchange, were involved in the CEC of peptides, whereas repulsive electrostatic interaction could be considered as negligible. This stationary phase affords different selectivity compared to that observed on a C18 stationary phase. Finally, the method was applied to the peptide mapping of beta-lactoglobulin and human growth hormone under unpressurized and isocratic elution.

Hybrid organic–inorganic monolithic stationary phase for acidic compounds separation by capillary electrochromatography

A novel type of organic-inorganic hybrid porous silica-based monolithic stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has been developed by sol-gel chemistry combined with supramolecular template-based approach in a simple and rapid manner. Both chromatographic interaction and electrophoretic migration contribute to the separation of acidic compounds by the monolithic column. Eight organic acids were separated rapidly with column efficiency up to 267,000 theoretical plates/m. The influences of buffer concentration and organic modifier content on the separation have been investigated. In addition, the hybrid monolithic column was used to separate triterpenoids from Ganoderma lucidum.

Monolithic columns with mixed modes of reversed-phase and anion-exchange stationary phase for capillary electrochromatography

A capillary electrochromatography (CEC) monolithic column with mixed modes of reversed-phase and anion-exchange stationary phases was prepared by in situ polymerization of 2-(methacryloxy)ethyltrimethylammonium methyl sulfate (MEAMS) and ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in a binary porogenic solvent consisting 1-propanol and 1,4-butanediol. The ammonium groups on the surface of the stationary phase generate an electroosmotic flow (EOF) from cathode to anode, and serve as a strong anion-exchange stationary phase at the same time. The EOF of the stationary phase can be determined by the amount of MEAMS monomer in reaction mixtures during the polymerization. The monolithic stationary phases exhibited reversed-phase chromatographic behavior toward neutral solutes. For charged solutes, hydrophobic as well as electrostatic interaction/repulsion with the monoliths was observed. Separations of aromatic compounds and basic compounds on the prepared column were performed under the mode of CEC. Peak tailing of basic compounds was avoided and the efficient separation of aromatic acids was achieved using neutral mobile phase due to the same direction of EOF and electrophorestic mobility of negatively charged solutes.

Peptide separation in hydrophilic interaction capillary electrochromatography

Separation of small peptides by hydrophilic interaction capillary electrochromatography (HI-CEC) has been investigated. The negative surface charge of a hydrophilic, strong-cation-exchange stationary phase (PolySULFOETHYL A) provided a substantial cathodic electroosmotic flow (EOF). The influence of acetonitrile content, ionic strength, mobile phase pH as well as applied voltage on the migration of the peptides was studied. Possible retention mechanisms of the peptides in HI-CEC were discussed. It was found that hydrophilic interaction between the solutes and the stationary phase played a major role in this system, especially when mobile phases with high acetonitrile content were used. However, an ion-exchange mechanism and electrophoretic mobility also affect the migration of the peptides in HI-CEC. Elution order and selectivity was proved to be different in HI-CEC and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), thus revealing the potential of HI-CEC as a complementary technique to CZE for the separation of peptides. Efficiency and selectivity of HI-CEC for the separation of peptides were demonstrated by baseline separating nine peptides in 6 min.

Influencing electroosmotic flow and selectivity in open tubular electrochromatography by tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin as capillary wall modifier

A physically adsorbed and covalently bonded porphyrin derivative, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin, H2TPFPP, has been used as a fused-silica capillary wall modifier in open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC), and its influence on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) velocity and on the selectivity of OT-CEC separations of a set of model aromatic carboxylic acids has been tested. Whereas most of the coatings of this category bring about an increase in selectivity with a concomitant slow down of the EOF, H2TPFPP coating, depending on pH of the background electrolyte used, resulted both in decreasing of EOF at pH 8.5 by 5% and in increasing of EOF by 10-43% at pH 6 and 5, respectively. The separation efficiency and the resolution of aromatic carboxylic acids separation in coated capillaries, namely in that one with covalent coating, were better than in the bare fused-silica capillary. The perspectives of H2TPFPP as capillary wall modifier are visualized in introducing well defined electroosmotic properties of materials used for miniaturized separation channels preparation in chip-based electromigration devices.

Separation of negatively charged nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography

Reversed-phase capillary electrochromatography in a 5-microm C18 fully packed capillary was employed to optimize the separation of negatively charged nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The effect of the physico-chemical parameters and different analysis modes on the separation of 2-arylpropionic acids was studied and evaluated. The mobile phase composition, buffer type, concentration and pH differently influenced the peak efficiency and resolution, selectively modulating the analytes interaction with the stationary phase. The use of zwitterionic MES or acetate mobile phases strongly modulated the analytes migration order and peak efficiency. The optimum experimental conditions were found in MES buffer, pH 5.0, containing the 75% acetonitrile-methanol (1:1). All the analytes were baseline separated in a mixture in less than 13 min with peak efficiencies in the range of 78,500-84,200 N/m. Under these conditions the analytes were negatively charged and their effective electrophoretic mobilities played a role in the separation. The analysis of different pharmaceutical preparations containing anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. drops and tablets, is also presented after a very simple sample pretreatment.

Capillary electrochromatography: a rapidly emerging separation method

This overview concerns the new chromatographic method--capillary electrochromatography (CEC)--that is recently receiving remarkable attention. The principles of this method based on a combination of electroosmotic flow and analyte-stationary phase interactions, CEC instrumentation, capillary column technology, separation conditions, and examples of a variety of applications are discussed in detail.

Recent applications of capillary electrochromatography

A review is presented of the most important recent applications of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) for the analysis of acidic, basic, and neutral compounds, of biomolecules, environmental substances, natural products, pharmaceuticals, and chiral compounds. Packed-column CEC (packed-CEC), open-tubular (OT-CEC), as well as pressure-assisted CEC (pseudo-CEC) are hereby considered. Papers published between July 1999 and April 2001 were taken into account. Applications before July 1999 have been reviewed in Electrophoresis 1999, 20, 3027-3065.

Capillary electrochromatography for separation of peptides driven with electrophoretic mobility on monolithic column

A mode of capillary electrochromatography for separation of ionic compounds driven by electrophoretic mobility on a neutrally hydrophobic monolithic column was developed. The monolithic column was prepared from the in situ copolymerization of lauryl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate to form a C12 hydrophobic stationary phase. It was found that EOF in this hydrophobic monolithic column was very poor, even the pH value of mobile phase at 8.0. The peptides at acidic buffer were separated on the basis of their differences in electrophoretic mobility and hydrophobic interaction with the stationary phase; therefore, different separation selectivity can be obtained in CEC from that in capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Separation of peptides has been realized with high column efficiency (up to 150,000 plates/meter) and good reproducibility (migration time with RSD <0.5%), and all of the peptides, including some basic peptides, showed good peak symmetry. Effects of the mobile phase compositions on the retention of peptides at low pH have been investigated in a hydrophobic capillary monolithic column. The significant difference in selectivity of peptides in CZE and CEC has been observed. Some peptide isomers that cannot be separated by CZE have been successfully separated on the capillary monolithic column in this mode with the same buffer used.