Chromatographic and electrophoretic migration parameters in capillary electrochromatography

Chromatographic retention factor, k', as defined in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in terms of the migration times of the separand and the inert tracer, has limited applicability to capillary electrochromatography (CEC) when both chromatographic and electrophoretic processes determine the magnitude of the overall migration rates of the separands. This situation is unlike that in HPLC, where k' serves as a useful peak locator for the various sample components, as well as, provides thermodynamic insights into the interactions between the components and the stationary phase. Most publications have borrowed the definition of k' from HPLC and applied it on CEC. However, due to the dual separation mechanisms that are in action in CEC, the system is significantly complicated in comparison to that of HPLC. This paper discusses the impossibility of defining with a k' which would have all the attributes that it has in regular chromatography. The interplay of the two separation mechanisms in determining the overall migration process in CEC is discussed and the various definitions of the electrochromatographic retention factor are presented.