Capillary zone electrophoresis - mass spectrometry using an electrospray ionization interface

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Anal. Chem.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ac00156a013· OSTI ID:7247955

Smith, R D; Olivares, J A; Nguyen, N T; Udseth, H R

Instrumentation developed for capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CZE-MS) is described. The interface is based upon direct electrospray ionization from the end of the CZE capillary. The electrospray ionization source functions at atmospheric pressure and provides excellent sensitivity for wide ranges of compounds, with detection limits generally in the femtomole range (although significant improvements appear feasible). The instrumentation allows the high separation efficiencies feasible with CZE to be exploited and offers potential advantages compared with LC-MS methods, particularly when only small samples are available or high-resolution separations are necessary. The performance of the electrospray interface and the techniques and operating conditions for CZE-MS separations are described. CZEMS separations and mass spectra are shown for mixtures that include polypeptides and quaternary ammonium salts. Separation efficiencies and detection limits vary widely from compound to compound and are shown to be sensitive to buffer selection. Separation efficiencies exceeding half a million theoretical plates are demonstrated for some compounds. Wider application and improved performance are anticipated with minimization of CZE band spread (due to adsorption and possibly other processes) and optimization of CZE buffers (for both the separation and their compatibility with electrospray ionization).

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 7247955
• Journal Information: Anal. Chem.; (United States), Vol. 60:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ELECTROPHORESIS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
POLYPEPTIDES
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
CAPILLARIES
EFFICIENCY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INTERFACES
IONIZATION
OPTIMIZATION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RESOLUTION
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DATA
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDES
PROTEINS
SPECTROSCOPY
400102* - Chemical & Spectral Procedures
400105 - Separation Procedures