Fast and simultaneous detection of prominent natural antioxidants using analytical microsystems for capillary electrophoresis with a glassy carbon electrode: A new gateway to food environments

• Published in: Electrophoresis 2005-12, Vol.26 (24), p.4664-4673
• Main Authors: Blasco, Antonio Javier, Barrigas, Inés, González, María Cristina, Escarpa, Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - analysis; Arbutin - analysis; Capillary electrophoresis microchips; Catechin - analysis; Electrochemical detection; Electrodes; Electrophoresis, Microchip - instrumentation; Electrophoresis, Microchip - methods; Flavonoids - analysis; Food Analysis - methods; Miniaturization; Natural antioxidants; Phlorhizin - analysis; Polyphenolic compounds; Rutin - analysis
• ISSN: 0173-0835; 1522-2683
• DOI: 10.1002/elps.200500211

This paper examines for the first time the analytical possibilities of fast and simultaneous detection of prominent natural antioxidants including examples of flavonoids and vitamins using a CE microchip with electrochemical detection (ED). Unpinched injection conditions, zone electrophoretic separation and amperometric detection were carefully assayed and optimised. Analysis involved the zone electrophoretic separation of arbutin, (+)‐catechin and ascorbic acid in less than 4 min using a borate buffer (pH 9.0, 50 mM), employing 2 kV as the separation voltage and +1.0 V as the detection potential. In addition, the separation of different ‘couples’ of natural antioxidants of food significance including (+)‐catechin and ascorbic acid, (+)‐catechin and rutin, as well as arbutin and phlorizdin is proposed. To demonstrate the potential and future role of CE microsystems, analytical possibilities and a new route in the raw sample analysis are presented. The preliminary results obtained allow the proposal of CE‐ED microchips as a real gateway to microanalysis in foods.