Polymer mediated capillary electrophoresis with attenuated total reflectance infrared microspectroscopy detection

Polymer mediated capillary electrophoresis (CE) using poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) in the electrolyte with end-column single reflection attenuated total internal reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy is presented. The terminus of the capillary is placed approximately 1 microm from the internal reflectance element (IRE), at the focus of the ATR infrared microscope. Electrophoretic separations of benzenesulfonate, 1-naphthalenesulfonate and 1,5-naphthalenesulfonate in a NaCl and PDDAC electrolyte using either -11 or -15 kV are demonstrated with the CE-ATR FT-IR spectra providing identification of these compounds. Running electrolyte salt concentrations in the 0.85-1.7 M range are required due to the 50-80 mg mL(-1) sample concentrations. Increasing the NaCl salt concentration improves peak resolution but also increases analysis time. A PDDAC concentration as low as 0.0075% can facilitate the separation of the aromatic sulfonates while maintaining reasonable electroosmotic flow. Etching of the germanium IRE by the applied current, which can affect the intensity of the infrared beam, is corrected by fabrication of a plastic mounting post for the IRE to prevent current conduction through the IR instrument.