Separation of the eleven priority pollutant phenols by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) provides highly efficient separation of the eleven US EPA priority pollutant phenols. All of these phenols are completely resolved in fewer than 15 min in a 100 cm x 75 microns I.D. uncoated fused-silica capillary at 22.5 kV using a pH 9.8 phosphate-borate buffer. Buffer pH is the most critical parameter controlling resolution and separation time. A simple theoretical treatment greatly simplifies the pH optimization procedure. The effects on the separation of buffer concentration, applied voltage, and sample quantity injected were studied. Good calibration data were obtained for phenol concentrations up to 50 mg/l. Limits of detection for all phenols were less than 1 ppm.