Micellar electrokinetic chromatography of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners using a polymeric surfactant as the pseudostationary phase

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) of highly hydrophobic compoun ds is generally difficult using sodium dodecyl sulfate micellar solutions. The polymeric surfactant, polysodium undecyl sulfate (poly-SUS) has been us ed to separate moderately to highly hydrophobic polychlorinated biphenyl (P CB) congeners by MEKC in the absence of cyclodextrins. Parameters such as c oncentration of acetonitrile (ACN), polymeric surfactant concentration, and the effect of pH were examined. Optimum MEKC conditions to get baseline re solution of nine PCBs was 7.5 mM berate in 40% (v/v) ACN fraction buffered at pH 9.2 using 0.5% (w/v) poly-SUS. The applied voltage was 30 kV and the temperature was maintained at 25 degreesC. Elution order for each PCB conge ner was found to be dependent on the degree of chlorination and hydrophobic character. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.