Comparison of monolithic capillary electrochromatography and micellar electrokinetic chromatography for the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Atmospheric pollution of anthropic origin is recognized as a major risk factor for health, in particular for respiratory and cardio-vascular systems. Among these pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are placed on the list of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as ‘priority’ pollutants and four of them are assigned as potential carcinogens by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In the present work two capillary techniques—micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) and monolithic capillary electrochromatography (CEC)—were compared for the separation of eleven PAHs. Both techniques compared in the present work are fully compatible with every standard apparatus of capillary electrophoresis. For MEKC, enhancement of selectivity and decrease of the separation window of eleven PAHs were obtained with methanol:borate 25mM (20/80, v/v) running buffer containing 10mM of hydroxypropylated γ-cyclodextrins with low SDS content (25mM). In case of CEC, two acrylate-based monolithic stationary phases (MSPs) were evaluated for their application in the separation of eleven PAHs. The best MSP based on butyl acrylate was compared with MEKC in terms of sample capacity, PAHs elution order, LOQ, efficiency and effect of pH. Influence of the hydrophobicity of mobile phase on the PAHs elution order was also studied. [Display omitted] •The MEKC method was optimized using cyclodextrin and a low amount of methanol and SDS.•The formulation of the monolith for CEC was optimized and discussed.•A MS compatible mobile phase was optimized for CEC.•Separation of eleven PAHs with CEC and MEKC was shown.•Chromatographic parameters for both techniques were discussed and compared.