Advances in the Applications of Capillary Electrophoresis to Tobacco Analysis

Abstract

Background: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has found a wide range of applications because of its high separation efficiency, low expense, short analysis time and minimal sample volume requirement. The tobacco quality depends on the nature and quantity of numerous substances. CE has been applied in the constituent analysis of tobacco and tobacco products for quality control and tobacco research. Methods: The advances in the applications of CE to tobacco analysis are reviewed. The main subjects cover the separation modes of CE, the detection techniques of CE, sample preparations and the applications of CE in the measurements of various constituents in tobacco samples. In addition, the CE-based metabonomic investigation of tobacco is also introduced. Results: Capillary zone electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, capillary isotachophoresis, capillary gel electrophoresis, capillary electrochromatography and non-aqueous CE have been applied in the determination of a variety of constituents in tobacco and tobacco products. The assayed substances include alkaloids, amines, saccharides, organic acids, inorganic ions, phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, peptides, proteins, hormones, agricultural chemicals, etc. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that CE is a promising analytical technique in the field of tobacco analysis. It is anticipated that CE will find more and more applications in tobacco investigations.

A smart portable electrochemical sensor based on electrodeposited ferrocene-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes for in vitro and in vivo detection of nicotine in tobacco samples

“…The current qualitative or quantitative detection methods for NIC and EVG include spectrophotometry, 12 fluorescence, 13 high-performance liquid chromatography, 14 surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, 15 electrochemiluminescence 16 and capillary electrophoresis. 17 However, these methods have the drawbacks of complex sample pretreatment steps, time-consuming procedures, high costs and the large size of the instruments, which seriously hinder large-scale analyses in practical production applications. In recent years, in response to the requirements for information and the intelligent development of agriculture, the concept of portability has evolved rapidly and portable electrochemical workstations have gradually entered people's vision.…”