Question

Describe the key components in a capillary electrophoresis system, and explain how making adjustments to each component can have a feedback effect on the separation that is observed?

Answer 1

Capillary electrophoresis is an analytical technique for the separation of ions. This is based on their electrophoretic mobility under the influence of an applied voltage. The electrophoretic mobility is dependent upon the charge of the molecule, the viscosity, and the atom's radius. The rate of particle movement is directly proportional to the applied electric field--the greater the field strength, the faster the mobility.

A typical capillary electrophoresis system consists of a high-voltage power supply, a sample introduction system, a capillary tube, a detector and an output device.High-voltage power supply facilitatesthe migration of ions. A temperature control device is used ifor the separation of the sample which depends on the electrophoretic mobility. The viscosity of the solutions decreases as the column temperature rises.Each side of the high voltage power supply is connected to an electrode. These electrodes help to induce an electric field to initiate the migration of the sample from the anode to the cathode through the capillary tube.