DETERMINATION OF HETEROCYCLIC-COMPOUNDS BY MICELLAR ELECTROKINETIC CAPILLARY CHROMATOGRAPHY

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) based on sodiu m cholate (NaCh) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was developed for t he determination of aromatic amino acids and heterocyclic legume const ituents. The influence of temperature, voltage, micellar system, pH, z witterion and modifier concentrations in the buffer on migration times , peak areas, resolution and number of theoretical plates was investig ated. This MECC method makes possible the sensitive determination of t he individual compounds with detection limits in the picomole range. U p to 300000 theoretical plates per metre of capillary were obtained to gether with satisfactory linearity and repeatability of the NaCh metho d. The applicability of MECC to samples prepared from plant material, following a fast and simple technique of isolation, purification and g roup separation, is illustrated by selected examples.