Non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis 2005-2008.

This review article presents recent developments and applications of non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE): The text covers the period from the previous review (L. Geiser, J. L. Veuthey, Electrophoresis 2007, 28, 45-57) to summer 2008. We focus primarily on the analysis of pharmaceutical drugs by non-aqueous solvents in CZE within different matrices including phytochemical plant extracts and biological fluids. We also extend our discussion to other application fields (e.g. food material and environmental samples) and to chiral separations by NACE. This review focuses on practical aspects of NACE, illustrating which organic solvents and electrolytes are best suited for NACE analyses and their compatibilities with different detection techniques, including UV, LIF and MS. The review emphasizes the interests of using non-aqueous solvents in place of water for the analysis by CZE, and as an alternative to MEKC.