Capillary electrophoresis

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Capillary Electrophoresis (pronunciation: cap·​il·​lary | \ ˈka-pə-ˌler-ē, e·lec·tro·pho·re·sis | \ i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈrē-səs) is a technique used in Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry to separate ionic species by their charge and frictional forces. The term is derived from the Greek words elektro, meaning amber, and phoresis, meaning to carry.

Overview

Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) is a family of related techniques that employ narrow-bore (20-200 μm i.d.) capillaries to perform high efficiency separations of a variety of analytes, ranging from small inorganic ions to large proteins. The technique is based on the differential migration of analytes in an electric field, with the separation based on the size to charge ratio of the particles.

Principle

The principle of Capillary Electrophoresis involves the application of high voltage across the ends of a capillary tube filled with an Electrolyte. The analytes in the sample are then separated based on their size to charge ratio.

Applications

Capillary Electrophoresis has a wide range of applications in the field of Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It is used for the separation and analysis of proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules.

Related Terms

See Also

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