Altering the selectivity of inorganic anion separations using electrostatic capillary electrophoresis

A new method for altering the selectivity of inorganic anion separations in capillary electrophoresis is described. Addition of the zwitterionic surfactant 3-(N,N-dimethyldodecylammonio)propane sulfonate (DDAPS) to the background electrolyte modifies the migration order via electrostatic ion chromatography type interactions. Variation of the DDAPS surfactant concentration from 4 to 120 mM monotonically alters the selectivity from electrophoretic mobility based to that of electrostatic ion chromatography, without increasing Joule heating. This technique was applied to the determination of nitrate, nitrite, bromide and iodide in artificial seawater. Detection limits for the anions in 1:5 diluted seawater were 11, 5, 7 and 11 muM, respectively.