“Short-end injection” rapid analysis capillary electrochromatography

Summary

The analytical benefits of using “short-end injection” rapid analysis in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) have been demonstrated. These include extremely rapid analysis times, the potential for voltage gradients to be exploited, high hydrodynamic loadability and the convenience of using short detachable lengths of packed capillaries. “Short-end injection” rapid CEC has been demonstrated for the analysis of a standard neutral test mixture and three pharmaceutically active steroids. Extremely short analysis times were obtained due to the increased effective field strength experienced by the packed bed and the reduced length to the detector. In conjunction with an appropriate sampling rate, peak efficiencies in excess of 554,000 plates/metre (i.e. 41,500 plates per column) could be obtained. The repeatability of retention time and peak area compared favourably to that obtained using a conventional CEC approach.