Continuous on-line derivatization and selective separation of D-aspartic acid by a capillary electrophoresis system with a continuous sample introduction interface

A rapid and selective method is described for the separation of D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) using a continuous on-line derivatization system coupled to capillary electrophoresis (CE). D-Asp was derivatized using o-phthaidialdehyde/N-acetyl-L-cysteine (OPA/NAC). By on-line derivatization, amino acid enantiomers were automatically and reproducibly converted to the UV-absorbing diastereomer derivatives which were separated by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) in the presence of 10 mmol/L beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD). Under the investigated separation conditions, D-Asp is resolved from L-aspartic acid (L-Asp) and other amino acids in a standard mixture of amino acids. The separation could be achieved within 4 min and the sample throughput rate can reach up to 16 h(-1). The repeatability (defined as relative standard deviation, RSD) was 3.21%, 3.58% with peak area evaluation and 3.72%, 4.03% with peak height evaluation for L-Asp and D-Asp.