ABSTRACT
This chapter describes all the methods of separation of electrically charged compounds under the action of the electric field. The method is as well applicable to simple ions and macromolecules. It is achieved for the latter in a liquid medium and recent years on flat porous support (slab). Electro-migration techniques on a slab or in the tube are also grouped under the name “electrophoresis” and for those achieved into a capillary called “capillary electrophoresis”. Capillary electrophoresis is a compromise between conventional electrophoresis and high-performance liquid chromatography. Since the end of the 1980s, there has been significant growth in this domain. Its application field is larger than those of conventional electrophoresis because, in some conditions, it is possible to separate neutral species. Thus, capillary electrophoresis is a more environment-friendly method than liquid chromatography because it does not use organic solvents. This chapter mentions the theory of electro-migration techniques and describes the different parts of instrumentation. The different parameters (pH of the buffer, voltage, general characteristics of the capillary) which influence the running time of separation and the resolution are also regarded.
