Fundamentos de eletroforese capilar: uma abordagem por animações

Abstract

Among the analytical separation techniques, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has attracted attention in both academic and industrial fields, mainly owing to its efficiency, short analysis times, low reagent consumption and residue generation. This is also the case in Chemistry courses, books and papers, demonstrating CE´s well-established status. However, despite the range of available bibliographic material, there is a lack of animations showing the CE dynamic process. Therefore, the aim of this work was to show the development of a group of animations available for public access, where electrolyte and analytes movements under different CE modes; electropherogram formation; and online ultraviolet-visible spectra can be viewed. The normal or reverse electroosmotic flow generation in the vicinity of the silica capillary wall and the partition motion of neutral compounds between micellar and aqueous phases are also shown. Capillary zone electrophoresis, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, capillary electrochromatography, capillary isoelectric focusing, capillary isotachophoresis and capillary gel electrophoresis, are included in this package. This animation approach can be highly didactic and can complement the theoretical study of CE techniques, which may aid researchers, teachers and students interested in understanding the dynamism and potential of different CE modes.