Enantiomer separation by pressure-supported electrochromatography using capillaries packed with a permethyl-beta-cyclodextrin stationary.

Efficient enantiomer separation by pressure-assisted, micro-packed capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has been carried out using a permethyl-beta-cyclodextrin-modified silica support (PM-beta-CD-silica). When comparing this method with micro-packed-high-performance liquid chromatography in the single-column-mode, CEC displays higher column efficiencies (about three times higher theoretical plate numbers at comparable elution times). The pressure support (about 10 bar), applied to avoid bubble formation, has a negligible influence on elution times in CEC. The influence of the type and composition of organic modifiers is described.