title: Contactless conductivity detection of synthetic polymers in non-aqueous size-exclusion electrokinetic chromatography.
abstract: A capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CCD) system has been applied for the detection of neutral synthetic polymers in capillary size-exclusion electrokinetic chromatography (SEEC). Polystyrene standards, that were used as a model compounds, were separated on a capillary column packed with porous 10 microm silica particles with an electrokinetically driven mobile phase, and detected by CCD and UV detection simultaneously. Mass-calibration curves for polystyrene were constructed. Satisfactory results were obtained for the linearity, the run-to-run repeatability (<0.2% for the relative retention and <4% for the peak area) and the robustness of the detector. One of the major issues in this preliminary study was to investigate the origin of the peaks observed for the polystyrene standards. The effect of the molar mass of the polystyrenes on the sensitivity was small. Therefore, the signals obtained could not be explained as the result of an increased viscosity and a decreased solution conductivity of the solute zone. An alternative hypothesis is suggested, and recommendations for further research are given.
authors.affiliation: Polymer-Analysis Group, Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Kathalijne A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Oudhoff
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macka
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schoenmakers
authors.forename: Wim Th
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kok
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D020374:Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D012997:Solvents