Discontinuities of pH at zone boundaries in isotachophoretic systems with poorly buffering leading electrolytes.

Discontinuities of pH at zone boundaries of strong ion sample zones in isotachophoretic systems with poorly buffering leading electrolytes have been discovered by dynamic computer simulations of isotachophoretic separations with uncommon electrolyte systems. When using a salt solution containing a strong cation (anion) as leading ion and a weak anion (cation) as counterion for the isotachophoretic separation of strong cations (anions), severe pH discontinuities are present at zone boundaries of these cations (anions). The magnitude of these pH discontinuities has been investigated as a function of several parameters, namely counter ion/leading ion concentration ratio of the leading electrolyte, pK values, and mobilities of sample ions and counterion.