Kapillaarelektroforees

Kapillaarelektroforees, often abbreviated as CE, is a powerful analytical technique used for separating components of a mixture based on their charge and size. It operates by applying a high voltage across a narrow capillary filled with an electrolyte solution. When a sample is injected into the capillary, the charged analytes migrate towards the electrode with the opposite charge. The speed of migration, and therefore the separation, is influenced by factors such as the analyte's electrophoretic mobility and the electroosmotic flow, which is the bulk movement of the solvent within the capillary. Detection of the separated components typically occurs at the end of the capillary, often using UV-Vis spectroscopy or fluorescence. CE offers several advantages including high resolution, short analysis times, and minimal sample and reagent consumption. It finds wide applications in various fields, including pharmaceutical analysis, environmental monitoring, biochemical research, and forensic science, for tasks such as drug purity testing, DNA sequencing, and protein separation. Different modes of CE exist, such as capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), and capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF), each offering specific separation capabilities.