Field-amplified sample injection and in-capillary derivatization for sensitivity improvement of the electrophoretic determination of histamine

The feasibility of the combination of field-amplified sample injection (FASI) and in-capillary derivatization was explored for improving sensitivity of histamine in capillary electrophoresis (CE). Naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA) was used as derivatization reagent. The reagent and sample was introduced by tandem mode. The derivatization was accomplished by at-inlet mode with standing time of 1.5 min. The combination of FASI and in-capillary derivatization was successfully achieved with about 400-fold concentration sensitivity enhancement compared to pre-capillary derivatization at the same set-up. The detection limit of concentration for histamine reached 1.25 × 10−11 M by CE and fluorescence detection with S/N = 3. Parameters affecting FASI and in-capillary derivatization process including sample matrix, buffer concentration and reagent injection amount, were investigated.