Two-dimensional separation of ionic species by hyphenation of capillary ion chromatography × capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry.

The separation of complex mixtures such as biological or environmental samples requires high peak capacities, which cannot be established with a single separation technique. Therefore, multidimensional systems are in demand. In this work, we present the hyphenation of the two most important (orthogonal) techniques in ion analysis, namely, ion chromatography (IC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE), in combination with mass spectrometry. A modulator was developed ensuring a well-controlled coupling of IC and CE separations. Proof-of-concept measurements were performed using a model system consisting of nucleotides and cyclic nucleotides. The data are presented in a multidimensional contour plot. Analyte stacking in the CE separation could be exploited on the basis of the fact that the suppressed IC effluent is pure water.