Capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis-electrospray-mass spectroscopy for the analysis of heterocyclic amines.

Fourteen heterocyclic amines (HAs) were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis (CE) on a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated capillary column. The optimized electrolyte is composed of 20 mM ammonium acetate, pH 3.0, and 20% methanol. Similar conditions were applied in electrospray-mass spectrometry (CE-ES-MS). The CE-ES-MS optimization procedure includes the position of the capillary in the stainless steel interface, the flow of the sheath liquid and its composition.