Separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis using charge-transfer complexation with planar organic cations.

In this study, we examine the use of charge-transfer interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and planar organic cations in nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis. Since the separations are performed in a purely nonaqueous medium, this method also facilitates the analysis of solutes that have low solubilities in aqueous or mixed media. Presented in this study are the separations of PAHs as well as the quantitative structure-migration relationships that assisted in achieving a better understanding of the forces through which the PAH molecules interact with the acceptor cation. It was found that, in addition to charge-transfer interactions, electrostatic and dispersive forces play an important role in PAH-cation binding.