Alcohols and wide-bore capillaries in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis

The feasibility of using C-1-C-5 alcohols as electrolyte solutions in nonaq ueous capillary zone electrophoresis was investigated. The separation of ba sic narcotic analgesics and acidic diuretics was modified by changing the a lcohol in an electrolyte solution containing alcohol-acetonitrile-acetic ac id (50:49:1, v/v) and 20 mM ammonium acetate while other experimental condi tions were kept constant. The alcohols studied were methanol, ethanol, l-pr opanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and l-pentanol. The results indic ate that even longer-chain alcohols can be used in nonaqueous capillary zon e electrophoresis and, because of the lower currents they allow, they are e specially advantageous in wider capillaries. Basic analytes were separated in 200 mu m and 320 mu m ID capillaries with l-butanol-acetonitrile-acetic acid (50:49:1, v/v) containing 20 mM ammonium acetate as electrolyte soluti on. Problems related to the use of wide-bore capillaries are discussed.