Microchip Separations of Neutral Species via Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography

Abstract

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) of three neutral coumarin dyes was performed on glass microchips. Manifolds of channels for analyte injection and separation were machined into one surface of the glass substrates using standard photolithographic, etching, and deposition techniques. Cover plates were then directly bonded over these channels to form capillary networks, with fluid flow in these networks controlled by varying the applied high-voltage potentials at the outlets. The separation capillary was 16.5 cm long for a serpentine channel chip and 1.3 cm long for a straight channel chip. Detection of analyte zones was accomplished by laser-induced fluorescence using the UV lines (nearly 350 nm) of an argon ion laser. At low applied electric field strengths, MECC analyses with on-chip injections gave high reproducibilities in peak areas and migration times ( 400 V/cm), analysis times were shorter, but separation efficiency decreased at later migration times. These peaks showed significant broadening, consistent with mass transfer effects. 14 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.