APPLICATION OF CHEMOMETRIC EXPERIMENTAL-DESIGNS IN CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS - A REVIEW

Various chemometric experimental designs have been employed for the op timisation of capillary electrophoresis (CE) methods. Similar designs have been utilised in the assessment of the robustness of CE methods. The designs employed include central composites, fractional factorials , Plackett-Burman, simplex and overlapping-resolution mapping. Optimis ation studies have largely concentrated on the use of these designs on selection of the optimal electrolyte composition. The robustness test ing studies performed have involved the use of screening designs to id entify the critical parameters affecting responses such as migration t imes and resolution. Further designs such as central composites have t hen been employed to set method limits following robustness studies. I t is concluded that the use of experimental designs and statistical da ta evaluation in conjunction with personal computer-controlled CE auto samplers and instruments are of great benefit in the optimisation and robustness evaluation of CE methods.