Recent applications of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Separation Science

Background:

• Microemulsions serve as mobile phases in capillary electrophoresis, analogous to micellar solutions.
• Microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC) has seen significant research growth in the past six years, with nearly 100 papers published.
• MEEKC is increasingly recognized for its separation capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and overview the applications of microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography (MEEKC).
• To highlight the use of MEEKC in characterizing lipophilicity.
• To present the diverse analytical applications of MEEKC, including natural products, pharmaceuticals, and biomolecules.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing microemulsions as pseudo-stationary phases in capillary electrophoresis.
• Investigating the separation characteristics of various microemulsion formulations.
• Applying MEEKC for the analysis of a wide range of chemical and biological substances.

Main Results:

• MEEKC has been successfully applied to characterize the lipophilicity of numerous chemical substances.
• The technique demonstrates broad applicability in analyzing complex mixtures and diverse analytes.
• Specific microemulsion systems have been identified for different analytical challenges.

Conclusions:

• MEEKC is a powerful and adaptable chromatographic technique.
• Its utility spans from fundamental lipophilicity studies to the analysis of complex biological and pharmaceutical samples.
• The continued development and application of MEEKC promise further advancements in separation science.