Fast electromigrative separation techniques

We designed and constructed a miniaturized capillary electrophoresis (CE) system which can achieve fast separations due to short capillary length and high electric field strength. An integrated and exchangeable autosampler unit allowed high-throughput measurements with small sample volumes down to 30 μl. The design of the device enables the implementation of various detectors e.g. mass spectrometry, amperometric and capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection [1].

In order to enhance high peak capacities multidimensional separation techniques are in demand. We realized the hyphenation of the two most important (orthogonal) techniques in ion analysis, namely, ion chromatography (IC) and capillary electrophoresis, in combination with mass spectrometry. A modulator was developed ensuring a well-controlled coupling of IC and CE separations by periodical injection [2,3].

The coupling of two important detectors for capillary electrophoresis, namely capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was established to enhance analytical information. The elaborated experimental protocol took into account the requirements of separation aspects and the compatibility with both detectors [4].

Publications:

[1] A. Schmidberger, S. Piendl, J. Mark, F.-M. Matysik, Monatsh. Chem. 2017, 148, 1661-1665.

[2] A. Beutner, S. Kochmann, J. Mark, F.-M. Matysik, Anal. Chem. 2015, 87, 3134-3138.

[3] A. Beutner, S. Piendl, S. Wert, F.-M. Matysik, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2018.

[4] A. Beutner, B. Scherer, F.-M. Matysik, Talanta 2018, 183, 33 – 38.

Our recent publications can be found here.

If you are interested to join us working on one of the above projects, please contact Prof. Dr. Frank-Michael Matysik.