Electrophoretron: A new method for enhancing resolution in electrokinetic separations

Two capillaries, each of which have different surface preparations on their inside walls, are joined together to form a closed loop, and electrodes are placed inside the two capillaries. When the loop is filled with liquid and a potential difference is applied between the two electrodes, a circulating flow of liquid is established inside the loop because the resistance to flow is unequal in going from one electrode to another in a clockwise versus a counterclockwise direction. Consequently, a sample injected into this device, which we call an electrophoretron, repeatedly circulates between the two electrodes and the capillary separation column becomes effectively one of unlimited length. On each cycle the separation between analytes with different mobilities increases, thus enhancing resolution of analytes having nearly the same mobilities. The operation of a prototype electrophoretron is demonstrated.