PHOTOACTIVATION - A NOVEL MEANS TO MEDIATE ELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATIONS

By introducing electromagnetic radiation of the appropriate wavelength , polarization, and power, the electronic charge within a solute molec ule can be redistributed in ways that affect its electrophoretic mobil ity. Consequently, photoactivation may be utilized to control and to e nhance electrophoretic separations in a selective and predictable mann er. The general concept and theory of the photoactivation method are e lucidated, and the feasibility is demonstrated for representative phot oionization and photodissociation reactions.