Multivariate optimization in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

The optimization of the organic modifier concentration in micellar electrok inetic capillary chromatography (MECC) has been achieved by a uniform desig n and iterative optimization method, which has been developed for the optim ization of composition of the mobile phase in high performance liquid chrom atography. According to the proposed method, the uniform design technique h as been applied to design the starting experiments, which can reduce the nu mber of experiments compared with traditional simultaneous methods, such as the orthano design. The hierarchical chromatographic response function has been modified to evaluate the separation quality of a chromatogram in MECC . An iterative procedure has been adopted to search the optimal concentrati on of organic modifiers for improving the accuracy of retention predicted a nd the quality of the chromatogram. Validity of the optimization method has been proved by the separation of 31 aromatic compounds in MECC. (C) 2000 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.