Comparison of Overpressured-Layer Chromatography and High-Performance/High-Pressure Layer Electrochromatography Using the New Prototype Equipment in Various Operational Modes

In our previous paper we have presented the new prototype equipment and introduced a new analytical technique—high-performance/high-pressure layer electrochromatography (HPLEC), a combination of overpressured-layer chromatography (OPLC) and pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC). In this paper, the work of the equipment in various operational modes is investigated. Some difficulties and challenges related to various aspects of separation are discussed. The OPLC and HPLEC techniques are compared in terms of selectivity and performance. The results show that our equipment can be successfully used for singe- and multichannel OPLC and HPLEC separations in various sample application and detection modes. It includes the high-throughput, multichannel, and fully automated online separation of multiple samples simultaneously. The equipment allows for the independent optimization of various operational parameters. HPLEC combines the advantages of column/capillary and planar separation techniques while overcoming their limitations. It also combines the advantages and overcomes the drawbacks of OPLC and PPEC. It provides hydrodynamic flow of the mobile phase, irrespective of the voltage used and/or the mobile phase composition. Thus, any optimization of the composition and the voltage can be used independently. Both can be used to obtain the required selectivity of separation. The voltage can be used to facilitate the mobile phase flow and accelerate the analysis.