Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography (MECC) is a technique used in analytical chemistry to separate, identify, and quantify chemical compounds in a sample mixture. It combines the principles of capillary electrophoresis and chromatography.
MECC employs a capillary column filled with a buffer solution containing a surfactant or micelles. The micelles serve as the stationary phase for the separation. The sample mixture is injected into the capillary and an electric field is applied to induce electrokinetic flow. The analytes within the sample are separated based on their charge-to-size ratio and interact differently with the micelles.
The separation process in MECC is influenced by several factors, including the buffer pH, concentration and type of surfactant, temperature, and applied electric field strength. Optimizing these parameters can enhance the resolution and efficiency of the separation.
MECC offers advantages over other separation techniques, such as high separation efficiency, short analysis time, and minimal sample consumption. It can be applied to a wide range of analytes, including small organic molecules, ions, peptides, and proteins. Additionally, MECC can be coupled with detection methods like UV/Vis spectrophotometry, fluorescence, or mass spectrometry to facilitate compound identification and quantification.
Overall, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary Chromatography is a powerful analytical technique that provides valuable insights into the composition of complex mixtures, making it an essential tool in fields like pharmaceutical analysis, environmental monitoring, and forensic sciences.
