The use of a bivalent counter anion to control the effective mobility of the hydrogen ion constituent in cationic isotachophoresis.

The use of a bivalent counter anion for cationic isotachophoresis was studied both theoretically and experimentally. A mathematical model was proposed and solved to give the effective mobility of the hydrogen ion constituent, uH,H, in the respective electrolyte systems. The theoretical values agreed well with the experimental data in a series of electrolyte systems. The dependence of uH,H on such parameters as pH of the leading electrolyte, ionic mobilities of leading and counter ions, and dissociation constants was calculated and discussed. A bivalent counter anion will prove useful for the separation of low mobility cations and weak bases, as shown for the separation of substituted anilines in a succinate electrolyte system.