BILE-SALT SURFACTANTS IN MICELLAR ELECTROKINETIC CAPILLARY CHROMATOGRAPHY - APPLICATION TO HYDROPHOBIC MOLECULE SEPARATIONS

Bile salt surfactants are used in the micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) separation of various hydrophobic compounds. The use of methanol in the mobile phase allows the separation of previously intractable compounds including polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The effects of methanol on critical micelle concentration is investigated for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the bile salt sodium cholate. It is determined that the unique structure of the bile salt micelle is much more tolerant to the addition of organic solvents than SDS, thereby increasing the scope of applications of MECC to include hydrophobic compounds.