Microchip capillary electrophoresis using on-line chemiluminescence detection

Chemiluminescence detection was used in capillary electrophoresis integrated on a microchip. Quartz microchips have two main channels and four reservoirs. Dansyl-lysine and -glycine were separated and detected with bis[(2-(3,6,9-trioxadecanyloxycarbony)-4-nitrophenyl]oxalate as peroxyoxalate chemiluminescent reagent. These dansyl amino acids came into contact with the chemiluminescence reagent to produce visible light at the interface between the separation channel and chemiluminescence reagent-containing reservoir. The detection limit (S/N=3) for dansyl-lysine was 1·10−5 M, which corresponded to the very small mass detection limit of ca. 0.4 fmol. However, the concentration sensitivity in the present system was approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that in the conventional capillary electrophoresis–chemiluminescence detection system. The relative standard deviations of migration time and peak height for dansyl-lysine were 4.2 and 4.5%, respectively. A channel conditioning before every run and an appropriate control of voltages were needed for the reproducible results. The present system had advantages in rapid separation time (within 40 s), small (several 10 pl) and accurate sample injection method using a cross-shaped injector, and simplification and miniaturization of the detection device.