Application of polyelectrolyte complexes as novel pseudo-stationary phases in MEKC

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) with carboxyl groups partially blocked by dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) were tested as new pseudo-stationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The separation of was examined using PAA and PMAA. Excellent resolution of the substituted phenols and derivatized amino acids was demonstrated using additives of PAA-DTAB polyelectrolyte complex in the running phosphate buffer. It was found that the capacity factors were proportional to the concentration of the complex PAA/DTAB. Critical micelle concentration was effectively zero. It was found that the migration times and efficiency of separation of phenols and derivatives of amino acids depended on the type of polymers and alkyltrimethylammonium salts used.