| The present dissertation discusses the application of two popular and important separation techniques for the separation of chiral compounds and resolution of complex mixtures found in biological samples.; Chapter 1 focuses on the general advances and principles of Capillary Electrophoresis, some of the experimental variables that need to be considered for its successful application, and the description of the different modes or methods commonly employed. Different capillary electrophoretic applications are encompassed in Chapters 2, 3 and 4.; Electrophoretic enantioseparations of ten different chiral compounds, including acidic, neutral and basic, using cyclodextrins as chiral selectors is the subject of Chapter 2. Three different functionalized β-cyclodextrins, two sulfated β-cyclodextrins and a phosphated β-cyclodextrin, are compared. Effects of different experimental parameters such as degree of substitution of the cyclodextrin, pH of the background electrolyte as well as the concentration of the functionalized β-cyclodextrin were evaluated with respect to enantioseparation.; Currently, phenolic mixtures found in a variety of extracts are the topic of several studies. Polyphenols antioxidant properties have been associated with health benefits in humans. Chapter 3 and 4 describes the application of several electrolyte solutions in capillary electrophoresis for the resolution of such phenolic mixtures into their individual components. In both chapters, the mechanism as well as reproducibility of separation is emphasized. Chapter 3 includes the application of tetraalkylammonium tetrafluoroborate salts, while chapter 4 illustrates the screening and potential application of different 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium based ionic liquids for the separation of polyphenols found in grape seed extracts.; Selenium speciation analyses in Brassica juncea plant tissues using High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry is described in Chapter 5. A general overview of the phytoremediation process, selenium analysis, and principles of liquid chromatography-plasma mass spectrometry is also included. |
