Compact detection cell using optical fiber for sensitization and simplification of capillary electrophoresis-chemiluminescence detection

A new and simple chemiluminescence detection cell using optical fibers was designed for capillary electrophoresis. The cell was easily combined with capillary electrophoresis equipment and the system was operated without any tedious procedures. Luminol chemiluminescence was adapted for use with this detection cell. Hydrogen peroxide and catalysts were examined in detail with respect to their usage and concentration using the cell. The detection limit for luminol was 5.0 . 10(-10) M (14 amol; S/N=3), which was the most sensitive result reported so far. Also, a mixture of glycine, glycylglycine and glycylglycylglycine, which was labeled with isoluminol isothiocyanate, was subjected to the present system. They were sensitively detected and were baseline separated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.