Speaker: Courtenay Stinson
Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Time: 5:00 PM.
Place: Trustee Hall 118
Supervisor: Dr. Eamonn Healy
Title: Detection of Inorganic Anions by Capillary Electrophoresis and Fluorescence Quenching

Abstract: Indirect absorbance detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is often used for the analysis of inorganic anions. This technique utilizes UV-absorbing species in the background electrolyte (BGE) having the same charge as the analytes. Displacement of the BGE by migrating analytes results in a decrease in background absorbance and hence indirect detection of these species. This measurement is fully quantifiable. Based on earlier work by Doble and Haddad I report the optimization of this technique for the detection of chloride ion in concentrations of parts per billion (ppb). Specifically a two- probe BGE consisting of chromate and 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid allowed for an optimum peak shape and highest sensitivity in the separation of a mixture of our analytes of interest. These results will be compared with our work involving the analytical determination of chloride concentrations utilizing the phenomenon of fluorescence quenching.