Theory of system zones in capillary zone electrophoresis

In the last years, it has been shown that the formation and migration of system zones is an inherent feature of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and that it depends predominantly on the composition of an actual background electrolyte (BGE). In most of the currently used BGEs, the SZs are invisible by the UV absorbance detection system, however, the comigration of SZs with the zones of analytes deteriorates the analytical performance of CZE and may be fatal for its utilization. Therefore, the theoretical predictions of the existence and migration of SZs is of key importance for the expediency of CZE. This is a review of the theoretical treatments of SZs which reveals the origin and the properties of SZs and shows how to cope with them. Also, a table of some typical BGEs is presented where the existence and mobilities of SZs are given.