Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography theory based on electrochemical parameters: optimization for three modes of operation

Two new, fundamental equations for micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) have been derived, which are analogous to the corresponding capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) equations for the resolution and the migration time. The components in the theoretical plate height expression for MECC are compared with the appropriate parameters of the Van Deemter equation. MECC optimum resolution has been found for neutral solutes in three cases, where the migration mobility of the micelle is negative, zero, and positive. For the first case, which is similar to the CZE one, the condition has been found that makes the resolution approach infinity. For the two cases of positive and zero migration mobility of micelle, the optimal ranges of the capacity factors for good resolution and resolution per unit time have been found to be between 2 and 5. These optimal ranges approximate to that for conventional column chromatography, even though the physical causes of flow are different.