Online comprehensive two-dimensional ion chromatography × capillary electrophoresis.

A comprehensively coupled online two-dimensional ion chromatography-capillary electrophoresis (IC × CE) system for quantitative analysis of inorganic anions and organic acids in water is introduced. The system employs an in-house built sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis instrument and a nonfocusing modulation interface comprising a tee-piece and a six-port two-position injection valve that allows comprehensive sampling of the IC effluent. High field strength (+2 kV/cm) enables rapid second-dimension separations in which each peak eluted from the first-dimension separation column is analyzed at least three times in the second dimension.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography of organic and peroxide-based explosives.

CE methods have been developed for the analysis of organic and peroxide-based explosives. These methods have been developed for deployment on portable, in-field instrumentation for rapid screening. Both classes of compounds are neutral and were separated using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC).

Polymeric microchip for the simultaneous determination of anions and cations by hydrodynamic injection using a dual-channel sequential injection microchip electrophoresis system.

A dual-channel sequential injection microchip capillary electrophoresis system with pressure-driven injection is demonstrated for simultaneous separations of anions and cations from a single sample. The poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchips feature integral in-plane contactless conductivity detection electrodes. A novel, hydrodynamic "split-injection" method utilizes background electrolyte (BGE) sheathing to gate the sample flows, while control over the injection volume is achieved by balancing hydrodynamic resistances using external hydrodynamic resistors.

On-line sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis for near-real-time monitoring of extracellular lactate in cell culture flasks.

Cell culture has replaced many in vivo studies because of ethical and regulatory measures as well as the possibility of increased throughput. Analytical assays to determine (bio)chemical changes are often based on end-point measurements rather than on a series of sequential determinations. The purpose of this work is to develop an analytical system for monitoring cell culture based on sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis (SI-CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D).

In-plane alloy electrodes for capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection in poly(methylmethacrylate) electrophoretic chips.

A simple method for producing PMMA electrophoresis microchips with in-plane electrodes for capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is presented. One PMMA plate (channel plate) is embossed with the microfluidic and electrode channels and lamination bonded to a blank PMMA cover plate of equal dimensions. To incorporate the electrodes, the bonded chip is heated to 80 °C, above the melting point of the alloy (≈ 70 °C) and below the glass transition temperature of the PMMA (≈ 105 °C), and the molten alloy drawn into the electrode channels with a syringe before being allowed to cool and harden.

On-line simultaneous and rapid separation of anions and cations from a single sample using dual-capillary sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis.

A novel capillary electrophoresis (CE) approach has been developed for the simultaneous rapid separation and identification of common environmental inorganic anions and cations from a single sample injection. The method utilised a sequential injection-capillary electrophoresis instrument (SI-CE) with capacitively-coupled contactless conductivity detection (C(4)D) constructed in-house from commercial-off-the-shelf components. Oppositely charged analytes from a single sample plug were simultaneously injected electrokinetically onto two separate capillaries for independent separation and detection.

Tuneable nanochannel formation for sample-in/answer-out devices.

Control of the dielectric breakdown of PDMS was achieved by limiting the current during the breakdown process. This enabled tuning of the nanochannel pore size and hence their permeability for molecules of different molecular weights. This method enabled the analysis of the drug quinine from whole blood in 3 min using a simple, disposable microfluidic device.