Control of electroosmotic flow by a cation additive to enhance the separation of amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

The effect of a divalent cation (Mg2+) and 3 monovalent cations (Na+, Li+, and K+) as buffer additives on the electroosmotic flow (EOF) was investigated in order to improve the separation performance of p-acetamidobenzenesulfonyl fluoride (PAABS-F) derivatives of 20 standard amino acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The EOF can be decreased with increasing concentration of cations with the order of cations as Mg2+ > K+ > Na+ > Li+. However, it was found that the resolution cannot be improved easily using a buffer cation which is more capable of decreasing the EOF. Taking the migration time, resolution, and peak shape into account, Na+ is the best buffer additive, although the EOF decreased most using Mg2+. Using 20 mmol/L borate at pH 9.3 containing 140 mmol/L SDS and 20 mmol/L Na+ as electrolyte, 20 standard amino acids were successfully separated within 14 min.