ELECTROSPRAY INTERFACE FOR CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS MASS-SPECTROMETRY WITH FIBEROPTIC UV DETECTION CLOSE TO THE ELECTROSPRAY TIP

A miniaturized, integrated capillary electrophoresis-ultraviolet detec tion-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (CE-UV-ESI-MS) interfac e has been constructed and evaluated. The device incorporates a fiber optic detection cell close to the electrospray tip to allow UV monitor ing of separated zones just prior to their admittance into the mass sp ectrometer. This configuration provides precise information about the time when UV-active zones enter the electrospray and allows easy locat ion of analyte mass information in the ion current profile. The miniat urized dimensions of the interface allow the use of short capillaries for fast separations.