Evaluation of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography for the analysis of selected tobacco alkaloids.

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was evaluated for simultaneous determination of several tobacco alkaloids with similar molecular structure. Satisfactory separation of nicotine, nornicotine, myosmine, anatabine and anabasine extracted from tobacco was achieved by introducing an ionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, into the buffer system at a concentration of 100 mM. Sample preparation involved a single extraction with water containing 1% triethanolamine. Separation was performed on a 72 cm long, uncoated fused-silica capillary. Experimental parameters such as applied voltage, pH value, buffer composition and surfactant concentration were optimized. Enhancement of UV absorption of alkaloids in the presence of micelles was also studied.