Polyelectrolyte-modified short microchannel for cation separation

Electrophoresis. 2004 Mar;25(6):931-5. doi: 10.1002/elps.200305771.

Abstract

Three alkali cations, potassium, sodium, and lithium, have been separated within 15 s in a 1 cm long polymer microchip. The separation microchannel is modified by a polycation, poly(allylammonium chloride), which makes the channel surfaces positively charged leading to a reversed electroosmotic flow (EOF) when compared to bare channels. Due to the decreased apparent mobility of the cations, the separation resolution is improved allowing the use of shorter channels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cations / chemistry
  • Cations / isolation & purification*
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / instrumentation*
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary / methods*
  • Lithium / chemistry
  • Lithium / isolation & purification
  • Metals, Alkali / chemistry
  • Metals, Alkali / isolation & purification*
  • Miniaturization
  • Potassium / chemistry
  • Potassium / isolation & purification
  • Sodium / chemistry
  • Sodium / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Cations
  • Electrolytes
  • Metals, Alkali
  • Lithium
  • Sodium
  • Potassium