Anal. Chem. 1992, 64, 985-990
985
Gel-Filled Capillary Electrophoresis/Mass Spectrometry Using a Liquid Junction-Ion Spray Interface Frederick Garcia' and J a c k D. Henion*
Drug Testing and Toxicology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 925 Warren Drive, Ithaca, New York 14850
This first report of on-llne gebfliied capillary eiectrophoresis/mase spectrometry (CE/MS) and CE/MS coupled with tandem mass spectrometry demonstrates the fearlbiilty of accompiishlng this combination of analytical techniques. It is significant that thls approach Is feasible b e c a w of the considerable analytical potential for gekfilled caplllary electrophoresis in the future. I t Is shown that relatively high amcentrationsof urea and other Mer8 requked b achkvhg a separatlon in the gel do not elute from the gel and cause problems with mass spedrometrlc performance. The gel In the capliiary effectively "decoupies" the CE buffer from the mass spectrometric detection. I n addltlon, the seperated anaiytes are succemfully transported from the CE capillary through the liquid Junctlon-ion spray interface and are detected by the mass spectrometer vla dedroopray lonlzatlon. These results, therefore, demonstrate the feasibility of gelCE/MS for the separation and detection of organlc anlonlc species of industrlai and biological significance.
INTRODUCTION Electrophoretic separations in fused-silica capillaries (
