An outline of the basic theory of capillary electroseparations (CES) i
s given. This forms the basis for recommended naming of the various te
chniques and recommended methods for reporting migration and elution d
ata. For those techniques where the separation process is primarily ba
sed upon electrophoresis [capillary electrophoresis (CE) and capillary
gel electrophoresis (CGE)], the electroosmotic mobility of the electr
olyte (if not zero) and the electrophoretic mobilities of the analytes
should be reported. For those techniques where separation is primaril
y based upon partitioning between phases that move at different rates
[capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and capillary micellar electroc
hromatography (CMEC)], the electroosmotic mobility of the electrolyte
and the electromigration mobility of any moving secondary phase should
be reported, along with the capacity factors (k') or effective capaci
ty factors of the analytes. The band dispersion of CES systems should
be measured in terms of the HETP, as in chromatography.