Capillary electrophoresis of phosphorus oxo anions

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a useful technique for separating and quantitating the various inorganic phosphorus oxo anions (phosphates, phosphites and their oligomers). This paper reviews work to date on analyses for the oxo anions of phosphorus using CE, with an emphasis on electrolyte systems and their performance in phosphate separations. Applications of CE for quantitative speciation of phosphates in real samples are highlighted. Recent separations of polyphosphates, and the challenges remaining for the CE characterization of longer-chain polyphosphates, are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.