Hyphenation of Capillary Electrochromatography with Mass Spectrometry: The Technique and its Applications

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has shown great potential as a separation technique, particularly for the analysis of compounds in complex matrices. When coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) a powerful analytical tool is generated that is capable of structure elucidation with relatively low detection limits. However, the range of applications for CEC and CEC-MS is still rather limited and reflects the short renaissance period the technique has recently enjoyed. Through the introduction of more advanced automated CEC-MS systems and by further optimization of the hyphenation of CEC with MS, such as the coupling of nano-electrospray, CEC-MS can certainly develop into an important technique in the analytical armoury. In this review article the hyphenation, applications and perspectives of CEC-MS are summarized.