kapillærelektroforese

Kapillärelektroforese is a separation technique used in analytical chemistry. It utilizes an electric field to separate charged molecules based on their size and charge. The separation occurs within a narrow, fused-silica capillary tube filled with an electrolyte solution. When a high voltage is applied across the capillary, ions within the solution migrate. Positively charged ions (cations) move towards the negative electrode (cathode), while negatively charged ions (anions) move towards the positive electrode (anode).

The rate at which each ion moves is dependent on its electrophoretic mobility, which is a function of its charge-to-size ratio. Smaller ions with higher charges migrate faster. Additionally, electroosmotic flow, a bulk flow of the electrolyte solution within the capillary, also contributes to the migration of analytes. Different types of capillary electrophoresis exist, including capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE), and capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF), each offering unique separation capabilities.

Kapillärelektroforese offers advantages such as high separation efficiency, low sample and solvent consumption, and rapid analysis times. It finds applications in various fields, including pharmaceutical analysis, environmental monitoring, forensic science, and biochemical research for the separation of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules. Detection of the separated analytes is typically performed using UV-Vis absorbance or fluorescence detectors.