Selectivity control in the non-aqueous capillary electrophoretic separation of amino acids

The separation of dansylated amino acids and underivatized amino acids in non-aqueous electrolytes was evaluated with direct and indirect UV detection. Different migration orders were achieved for dansylated amino acids in methanol compared to aqueous electrolyte systems. A reversed migration order was observed for some dansylated amino acids. Separation selectivity was different under acidic and basic conditions and was also a function of the solvation properties of the solvent. Underivatized amino acids were separated in basic and acidic electrolytes in methanol; different separation selectivities and, for some amino acids, a reversed migration order were also observed in these electrolyte systems. Analytical merits of the separation of both derivatized and underivatized amino acids were briefly evaluated; detection limits for dansylated amino acids were in the range of 2 . 10(-7) -4 . 10(-7) mol/l and, for underivatized amino acids, were 2 . 10(-6) -4 . 10(-5) mol/l. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.