Combined electrophoresis-electrospray interface and method

USRE34757E · kind E · reissue

Assignee

• Battelle Memorial Institute · CH

Inventors

• Richard D. Smith · Richland, US
• Harold R. Udseth · Richland, US
• Jose A. Olivares · Los Alamos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 1991
• Grant date: Oct 18, 1994
• Expiry date: Dec 4, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing molecular constituents of a composition sample includes: forming a solution of the sample, separating the solution by capillary electrophoresis into an eluent of constituents longitudinally separated according to their relative electrophoretic mobilities, electrospraying the eluent to form a charged spray in which the molecular constituents have a temporal distribution; and detecting or collecting the separated constituents in accordance with the temporal distribution in the spray. A first high-voltage (e.g., 5-100 KVDC) is applied to the solution. The spray is charged by applying a second high voltage (e.g., .+-.2-8 KVDC) between the eluent at the capillary exit and a cathode spaced in front of the exit. A complete electrical circuit is formed by a conductor which directly contacts the eluent at the capillary exit, or by conduction through a sheath electrode discharged in an annular sheath flow about the capillary exit.