Determination of Amino Acids and Peptides by Capillary Electrophoresis and Electrochemical Detection at a Copper Electrode

Abstract

Electrooxidation of amino acids and peptides at Cu electrodes has been shown to provide an attractive method for detection and quantitation of these compounds after separation by capillary electrophoresis (CE). As has been previously seen in analogous liquid chromatography applications, the use of Cu electrodes permitted the direct detection of amino acid species in CE at constant applied potential and without derivatization. Strongly alkaline media, typically 50-100 mM NaOH, were required for the electrode process to proceed optimally; but such media were found to be suitable for useful CE separations