Reproducible protein analysis by CE using linear polyacrylamide-coated capillaries and hydrochloric acid rinsing

Hydrochloric acid was investigated as a rinsing reagent to remove adsorbed proteins from linear polyacrylamide-coated capillaries for electrophoresis. Three model proteins were used, namely cytochrome c as a basic protein, beta-lactoglobulin as an acidic protein, and beta-casein as a more easily denaturing protein. In order to regenerate capillary surfaces, they have been rinsed for 5 min with 2 M hydrochloric acid, 5 min with water, and then 30 min with buffer after every tenth run. It was found important to perform this regeneration procedure on time. The obtained results show good repeatability of the apparent EOF mobility with percentage RSDs below 3% (n = 60) in various cases. These good results were mainly confirmed in long-term series with more than 200 runs each. Only very high concentrations (175 microM) of beta-lactoglobulin and beta-casein at pH 3.5 gave RSD% values above 5%. For these conditions, the further test of 85% m/m phosphoric acid as rinsing reagent showed a good repeatability of the apparent EOF mobilities as well.