A Handy Detection Cell for End-Column Electrochemical Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

A handy and simple detection cell was constructed using a mixing joint for end-column electrochemical detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE). The cell allows for positioning of the working electrode at the end of the separation capillary without the aid of micropositioners. The design facilitates the exchange of electrodes and capillaries without the need to refabricate the entire capillary-electrode setup. The cell can be assembled in a short period of time. Alignment with the joint screw proved to be reproducible for working electrodes of copper and gold. The advantages of reduced time and low cost make the device very attractive for the routine analysis of electroactive species, such as carbohydrates and their derivatives, purine bases and nucleosides, amino acids, and catecholamines etc. by CE with electrochemical detection.

Recent advances in amino acid analysis by capillary electrophoresis

“…Goto et al developed a new setup for end-column ECD [30]. The cell allows positioning of the working electrode at the end of the separation capillary without the aid of micropositioners.…”

Analysis of inorganic and small organic ions by CE with amperometric detection

“…Pt [55,66,[106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117], Au [64,66,67,69,[118][119][120][121][122][123][124], and Cu [67,118,[125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132] are most commonly used metal electrodes for CE detection. A simple and easy way to construct gold microelectrodes for CE-AD systems was described [121].…”

Amperometric and voltammetric detection for capillary electrophoresis

“…Alignment can be achieved numerous ways including (i) manually with micromanipulators, (ii) using integrated electrode systems, or (iii) with cells specifically fabricated for repeatable capillary electrode alignment. Integrated systems [11] and detector cells developed specifically for ease of electrode alignment [12,13] have been reported.…”

“…The use of carbon [46,47], amalgamated gold [12], and copper [13] electrodes has been reported. Tyrosine, tryptophan and cysteine have been detected by direct oxidation at a carbon electrode.…”

“…Most of these compounds are easily detected amperometrically at carbon fiber electrodes. There have been several reports of neurotransmitters detected at carbon disk [46,55], carbon tubular [II], carbon array [21,22], carbon modified sol-gel [15], platinum cylinder, [29] gold disk [13], and gold array [19] electrodes.…”