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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Sheathless Capillary Electrophoresis–Mass Spectrometry for Metabolic Profiling of Biological Samples
Published on: October 1, 2016
Practical considerations for the analysis of ionic and neutral organic molecules with capillary electrophoresis/mass
Moritz Frommberger1, Matthias Englmann, Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin
1HelmholtzZentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Ecological Chemistry/Chemical BioGeoAnalysis, BioGeomics, Neuherberg, Germany.
Abstract:
This chapter presents the technique of capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE/MS). The introductory section is targeted mainly at CE/MS beginners and notes briefly the theoretical background of electrospray ionization (ESI), the most commonly used ionization mode in CE/MS. The specifics of CE/MS are described--also in comparison with more classic methods like LC/MS. Important caveats to be taken into consideration for successful CE/MS operation are noted in the interest of avoiding pitfalls. CE/MS is illustrated with three representative examples, which might serve as starting points for more in-detail experiments: (1) partial-filling micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) of neutral bacterial signaling molecules (N-acylhomoserine lactones) extracted from culture supernatants, (2) capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) of their anionic degradation products, and finally (3) CZE separation of cationic hydroxy-s-triazines.
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