Fabrication of a magnet-assisted alignment device for the amperometric detection of capillary electrophoresis using a carbon nanotube/polypropylene composite electrode

A magnet-assisted alignment device was designed and fabricated for the amperometric detection of CE. It mainly consisted of a magnet-containing electrode holder, a capillary-based microdisc detection electrode, a detection cell, and a micrometer adjuster. To demonstrate the feasibility and performance of the alignment device, it was used in combination with a carbon nanotube/polypropylene (CNT/PP) composite electrode for the determination of p-phenylenediamine, m-aminophenol, and m-dihydroxybenzene in commercial hair dye by CE. The CNT-based electrode was fabricated by packing a melt mixture of CNTs and PP in a piece of fused silica capillary under heat, offering significantly lower operating potentials, substantially enhanced signal-to-noise characteristics, and high resistance to surface fouling. Because magnetic force was employed to move the detection electrode, the alignment system was significantly simplified. It is characterized by simple design and fabrication, high alignment reproducibility, reduced alignment time, and low cost. Both the alignment device and the CNT/PP composite electrode should find a wide range of applications in microchip CE, flowing injection analysis, and other microfluidic analysis systems.