SEPARATION OF METAL-IONS BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS WITH A COMPLEXING ELECTROLYTE

Excellent separations of metal ions can be obtained very quickly by ca pillary electrophoresis provided a weak complexing reagent is incorpor ated into the electrolyte to alter the effective mobilities of the sam ple ions. Indirect photometric detection is possible by also adding a UV-sensitive ion to the electrolyte. Separations are described using p hthalate, tartrate, lactate or hydroxyisobutyrate as the complexing re agent. A separation of twenty-seven metal ions was achieved in only 6 min using a lactate system. A mechanism for the separation of lanthani des is proposed for the hydroxyisobutyrate system.