Metal Complex Separation with On-line Sample Preconcentration in Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography

Polyamidoamine dendrimers as sweeping agent and stationary phase for rapid and sensitive open-tubular capillary electrophoretic determination of heavy metal ions

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer generation 2.5 was synthesized and evaluated as sweeping agent for in-column enrichment and as stationary phase for capillary electrochromatographic separation of heavy metal ions, viz., Pb(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Zn(II) and Co(II), in a running buffer containing 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR) as a chromogenic reagent. During experiment, a plug of aqueous PAMAM generation 2.5 solution was first introduced to the capillary, followed by electrokinetic injection of the heavy metal ions under a positive voltage. In this step, PAMAM acted as a sweeping agent, stacking the metal ions on the analyte/PAMAM boundary by forming metal ion-PAMAM complexes. The second preconcentration process occurred when PAR, a stronger ligand, moving toward the injection end under the electric field, reached and re-swept the metal ion-PAMAM zone, forming metal ion-PAR complexes. During separation, the neutral PAMAM moved toward the detector with the electroosmotic flow, dynamically coating the capillary wall, forming stationary phases that affected the separation of the metal ions. Due to the function of PAMAM, the detection sensitivity and resolution of the heavy metal ions improved significantly. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits were 0.299, 0.184, 0.774, 0.182 and 0.047 μg/L for Pb(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Zn(II) and Co(II), respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of heavy metals in snow, tap and rain water samples.

MEKC as a powerful growing analytical technique

This review summarizes the principle and the developments in MEKC in terms of separation power, sensitivity, and detection approaches more than 25 years after its appearance. Newly used surfactants are mentioned. Classical and new sample concentration techniques in MEKC are described. The different detection approaches in MEKC with advantages, limitations, and future prospects are also discussed. This review highlights the wider application of MEKC in different analytical fields. Various recent selected applications of this technique in different analytical fields are reported.

Hydration of ions in confined spaces and ion recognition selectivity

The hydration of ions in confined spaces, such as the interior of ion-exchange resins, micelles, and surface monolayers, is discussed on the basis of results obtained with X-ray absorption fine structure studies, electrophoresis, and ion-transfer voltammetry. The general trends are that anions are partly dehydrated therein, whereas cations are likely to keep their first hydration shells. For bromide ions, the hydration numbers under various circumstances have been determined. The extents of dehydration depend not only on the structure of the cationic sites electrostatically attracting bromide ions but also on whether the cationic sites are exposed to a solution or are effectively shielded from it. These findings will be useful for designing the systems for ionic recognition and separation.

Sweeping and new on-line sample preconcentration techniques in capillary electrophoresis

Sweeping is a powerful on-line sample preconcentration technique that improves the concentration sensitivity of capillary electrophoresis (CE). This approach is designed to focus the analyte into narrow bands within the capillary, thereby increasing the sample volume that can be injected, without any loss of CE efficiency. It utilizes the interactions between an additive [i.e., a pseudostationary phase (PS) or complexing agent] in the separation buffer and the sample in a matrix that is devoid of the additive used. The accumulation occurs due to chromatographic partitioning, complexation or any interaction between analytes and the additive through electrophoresis. The extent of the preconcentration is dependent on the strength of interaction involved. Both charged and neutral analytes can be preconcentrated. Remarkable improvements--up to several thousandfold--in detection sensitivity have been achieved. This suggests that sweeping is a superior and general approach to on-line sample preconcentration in CE. The focusing mechanism of sweeping under different experimental conditions and its combination with other on-line preconcentration techniques are discussed in this review. The recently introduced techniques of transient trapping (tr-trapping) and analyte focusing by micelle collapse (AFMC) as well as other novel approaches to on-line sample preconcentration are also described.

Recent trends in CE of inorganic ions: From individual to multiple elemental species analysis

The major methodological developments in CE related to inorganic analysis are overviewed. This is an update to a previous review article by the author (Timerbaev, A. R., Electrophoresis 2004, 25, 4008-4031) and it covers the review work and innovative research papers published between January 2004 and the first part of 2006. As was underlined in that review, a growing interest of analytical community in providing elemental speciation information found a sound response of the CE method developers. Presently, almost every second research paper in the field of interest deals with element species analysis, the use of inductively coupled plasma MS detection and biochemical applications being the topics of utmost research efforts. On the other hand, advances in general methodology traditionally centered on a CE system modernization for improvements in sensitivity and separation selectivity have attracted less attention over the review period. While there is no indication that inorganic ion applications would surpass by the developmental rate the more matured analysis of organic analytes, CE can now be seen as an analytical technique to be before long customary in a number of inorganic analysis arenas.

Online concentration of aristolochic acid I and II in Chinese medicine preparations by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

In this study, an online concentration method in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) applying field-enhanced sample injection (FESI) mode was developed for the detection of aristolochic acids (AAs) in Chinese medicine preparations. AA-I and AA-II were baseline separated with high separation efficiency, and 100-fold enhancement of the detection sensitivity was achieved compared with those obtained from normal capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) or simple MEKC method. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of AAs in Chinese medicine preparations.

Characterization of bromide ions in charge-stacked zwitterionic micellar systems

A novel zwitterionic surfactant, N-dodecyl-N,N,N',N'-tetra-methyl-ethylene-di-ammonio-propane-sulfonate bromide (DEPB), has been synthesized, and Br(-) involved in the micellar system has been characterized by potentiometry, NMR, and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS). Although the dissociation degree of Br(-) from the micelle evaluated by potentiometry almost agrees with that determined by NMR, the former is significantly smaller than the latter over the entire range of concentrations of DEPB. This is explained by assuming that the bromide ions in the micellar system have several different peripheral structures. XAFS has given significant insight into the hydration structures of Br(-) involved in the system. Some of the bromide ions partitioned into the micelle are dehydrated and are directly bound by the ammonium groups in the DEP molecules. However, some of the bromide ions are still completely hydrated even when they are partitioned into the micelles. The average hydration number of the bromide ions directly bound by the ammonium groups was determined to be approximately 3.3. The partial dehydration of Br(-) is possibly facilitated by the characteristic hydration circumstances provided by the charge-stacked structure of the surfactant and by the resulting thick palisade layer of the DEP micelle.

Direct fluorometric detection of paramagnetic and heavy metal ions at sub-amol level using an aromatic polyaminocarboxylate by CZE: Combination of pre- and on-capillary complexation technique

The low sensitivity of simple CZE for detecting metal ions is a long-standing problem even when an LIF detection system is employed. We have successfully achieved an ultrasensitive CE-LIF using a simple CZE mode (typical detection limit: 10(-11)-10(-10) mol/dm(3)). Both the design of a newly synthesized ligand and the combination of a precapillary derivatizing technique with an on-capillary ternary complexing technique have enabled us to achieve this extremely low LOD and high resolution of large metal complexes. The direct fluorescent detection of the paramagnetic metal ions was achieved for the first time despite their intrinsic fluorescent quenching nature. The fluorescent ligand (L) consists of a polyaminocarboxylate chelating moiety, a strongly emissive fluorescein moiety and a spacer connecting the two portions. The migration behavior of various metal-L complexes was investigated. The resolution among the complexes was improved by the introduction of a ternary complex equilibrium of the kinetically stable mother complexes with OH(-) ion. The analytical potential of our simple system was examined, and it was proved that the system was one of the most sensitive methods without the need for any preconcentration process.

Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips

Poor sensitivity is considered to be one of the major limitations of electrophoretic separation methods, particularly when compared to traditional liquid chromatographic techniques. To address this issue, various in-line preconcentration techniques have been developed over the past 15 years, ranging in power and complexity, and there are now a number of well understood approaches routinely capable of providing a 10,000- to 100,000-fold increase in sensitivity, as well as several that can be pushed above a million. Furthermore, these have been achieved with particularly troublesome and often difficult samples, such as those having high salinity from a biological or environmental origin. This review will discuss the most common methods for improving the sensitivity of CE, CEC and microchip version of these, with particular attention to those approaches developed over the last five years.

Contemporary sample stacking in CE: A sophisticated tool based on simple principles

Sample stacking is a general term for methods in CE which are used for on-line concentration of diluted analytes. During the stacking process, analytes present at low concentrations in a long injected sample zone are concentrated into a short zone (stack). The stacked analytes are then separated and individual zones are detected. Thus stacking provides better separation efficiency and detection sensitivity. Many papers have been published on stacking till now, various procedures have been described, and, many names have been proposed for stacking procedures utilizing the same principles. This contribution brings an easy and unified view on stacking, describes the basic principles utilized, makes a list of recognized operational principles and brings an overview of principal current procedures. Further, it surveys selected recent practical applications ordered according to their operational principles and includes the terms, nicknames, and acronyms used for these actual stacking procedures. This contribution may help both newcomers and experts in the field of CE to orient themselves in the already quite complex topic of sample stacking.

MEKC: An update focusing on practical aspects

This paper reviews recent methodological and instrumental advances in MEKC. Improvements in sensitivity arising from the use of on-line sample concentration (sweeping, stacking, and combination of both protocols) and derivatization (in-capillary reactions and coupling with flow-injection systems) and improvements in resolution obtained by changing the composition of the BGE (e.g., with organic modifiers, ionic liquids, nonionic and zwitterionic surfactants, mixed micelles, and vesicles) or using coated capillaries are discussed in detail. In addition, MS and LIF spectroscopy are examined in relation to their advantages and restrictions as applied to MEKC analysis. Some thoughts on potential future directions are also expressed.

Determination of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) with Capillary Electrophoresis Using Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid as a Complexing Agent and Vancomycin as a Complex Selector

The simultaneous determination of metal ions using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a complexing agent and vancomycin as a complex selector was successfully studied by capillary electrophoresis with the U-shaped cell. The partial filling method (counter current mode) was used in order to gain selectivity of the separation, and also to increase the detection sensitivity. The effect of the vancomycin concentration on the separation behavior of free EDTA and metal products, and the effect of the EDTA concentration on the stability of metal-EDTA products were considered. Under the optimal condition, the reproducibilities (RSD) of the migration time and the peak area were less than 3.39% and 9.61%, respectively. With the high sensitivity of the method, Pb(II), Cu(II) and Fe(III) in tap water were successfully determined, and the recoveries were 99 - 105%. The concentrations of these metal ions found in tap water did not exceed the maximum allowed concentrations regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.