Electrochemical detection in capillary electrophoresis

Recent advances in the design and application of electrochemical detection (EC) systems in capillary electrophoresis (CE) are reviewed, with the objective of providing the non-electrochemist with a state-of-the-art picture of CEEC instrumentation and an overview of the primary analytes and samples for which the technique is best suited. In particular, instrument innovations designed to aid in decoupling the CE and EC systems electrically and in aligning them physically are described in detail. In addition, CEEC applications are summarized for four specific analyte groups: catecholamines, thiols and disulfides, amino acids, and carbohydrates. On this basis, it is clear that EC techniques have reached a stage where they are already having a significant impact on CE usage in selected areas of analysis. Continued developments with respect to new electrode materials and electrode configurations promise to broaden this impact further.