In: Chemistry
In CE utilizing photometric (UV) detection, it is often found to be difficult because of inadequate detector sensitivity.
a) why is UV detection of low sensitivity?
b) list all remedy(s) that can be had here.
a)
Although capillary electrophoresis (CE) as a separation method has the advantages of rapid separation and high resolution, one of limitations is its detection capabilities. Absorbance, fluorescence, electrochemical, and refractive index have been the major detection modalities of CE. Among them, on-column absorbance detection has been most commonly used for CE. The short path length inherent in capillaries of I.D. less than 100 µm, however, limits the detection sensitivity that is achieved with absorbance detection.
B)
1. Several attempts have been made to improve the detection sensitivity by extending the optical path length.
2.To overcome this limitation and to increase the sensitivity, two strategies are applied: first, to increase the amount of analyte added to the capillary.
3. increase the sensitivity on the detector site. To improve the sensitivity on the detector site, alternative detection techniques to UV detection, e.g., laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF) or mass spectroscopy (MS), can be applied.