Mechanistic studies of partial-filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

The need for coupling micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with electrospray mass spectrometry initiates the development of partial-filling MEKC. In comparison with conventional MEKC, only a small portion of the capillary is filled with a micellar solution for performing the separation in partial-filling MEKC. Analytes first migrate into the micellar plug, where the separation occurs, and then into the leading electrophoresis buffer, which is free of surfactants. A theoretical model is proposed for predicting the separation behavior of triazine herbicides in partial-filling MEKC. The comparisons between conventional and partial-filling MEKC in terms of separation efficiency and resolution of triazine herbicides are presented and discussed. The optimization techniques, possible applications, and advantages of partial-filling MEKC are similarly addressed.