Enantioseparation of terbutaline by online concentration capillary electrophoresis coupling with partial filling technique

A novel, simple and sensitive method for the enantioseparation of terbutaline enantiomers was developed using capillary zone electrophoresis ( CZE ) in combination with partial filling technique and field-amplified sample concentration. Under optimal conditions, the racemic terbutaline was resolved in less than 21 min by partially filling a fused-silica capillary with 15 mM β-cyclodextrin ( β-CD , 1.9 psi, 90 s) and carrying out an electrophoresis with 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 1.8) at 15 kV separation voltage. The sensitivity was further improved by using field-amplified sample injection (0.2 psi, 2.5 s water plug). Compared with conventional CZE, the resolution and sensitivity of two enantiomers were much improved (the detection limit decreased by 18–25-fold).