Application of HPLC and HPCE to the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and different high-performanc e capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) methods have been developed for the dete ction and quantitation of cyanobacterial toxins in environmental samples. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are responsible for toxic co ntamination of fresh water. Several serious episodes involving microcystins have been reported in recent years; the most common and toxic of these hep atotoxins is microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Sensitive analytical methodologies are required for determination of these compounds because of the implications for human health when the toxins are present in drinking water. Different modes of operation of HPCE were used and the results obtained wer e compared with those obtained by HPLC. Citrate buffer resulted in good sep aration of the microcystins when capillary electrophoresis was used in capi llary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) mode s; borate buffer containing sodium dodecyl sulphonate (SDS) was used in mic ellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Conditions were optimized and t he methods were applied to water samples and cyanobacterial cells containin g microcystins. Results obtained by use of HPLC-UV and different modes of o peration of CE-UV were compared in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and e fficiency.