A brief introduction to capillary electrophoresis

The present chapter aims to summarize the basic instrumental aspects and separation principles of capillary electrophoresis, with particular attention to those relevant in forensic sciences, and to make comprehensible also to newcomers the following papers of the present monographic volume. In brief, a capillary electropherograph consists of an injection system, a separation capillary (20-100 mu m I.D., 20-100 cm length), a high voltage source (delivering up to 30 kV and up to 200-250 mu A), electrodes and electrode jars and detector(s). All these instrumental components are described, with emphasis on the detection techniques. In addition, the main separation techniques are presented, including capillary zone electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography, capillary electrochromatography, capillary isotachophoresis, capillary gel electrophoresis, capillary isoelectric focusing and chiral separation methods. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.