Jc. Severs et al., A NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE INTERFACE FOR CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS ELECTROSPRAY-IONIZATION MASS-SPECTROMETRY, Rapid communications in mass spectrometry, 10(10), 1996, pp. 1175-1178
A novel capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectro
metry (CE/ESI-MS) interface has been developed based upon an alternati
ve means of establishing electrical contact at the CE capillary termin
us. In this design, the terminus of the CE separation capillary and a
short ESI emitter capillary are connected and sheathed by polysulphone
micro-dialysis tubing. The electrical connection, to close the CE cir
cuit and simultaneously establish the electrospray voltage, is provide
d outside the membrane via an electrode in a small liquid reservoir. I
n contrast to the sheath flow and liquid junction interfaces, the flow
rate of liquid to the ESI source consists of the CE eluent and is not
increased. The use of a 'micro-spray' type emitter produces a stable
electrospray at the very low flow rates typical of CE, providing a hig
hly sensitive, efficient interface. Post-separation acidification of a
nalytes via the dialysis junction is also demonstrated.