| The purpose of this dissertation research was to examine the utility of capillary electrophoresis (CE) for analysis of pesticides and DNA-adducts. The goal was to develop new analytical methods that are inexpensive, compatible with a broad range of analytes and generate little waste.; In this dissertation research, CE was evaluated as a tool to develop new analytical methods that meet the above criteria. The focus was to develop methods for analysis of a number of pesticides, including chiral pesticides and DNA-adducts. A number of methods were developed using micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), a mode of CE, to separate a variety of pesticides (atrazine, simazine, alachlor, metolachlor, carbendazim metalaxyl, propiconazole, vinclozolin, primisulfuron and triasulfuron. These methods were then successfully used to determine the residues of the above pesticides in water and soil samples at the ppb level. In addition, capillary electrophoresis using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was evaluated as a means of improving detection limits for analysis of pesticides. A CE/LIF method was developed for analysis of 2,4-D, dicamba and chlorimuron ethyl at the part-per-trillion (ppt) level.; Capillary electrophoresis using cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral reagents was evaluated to separate pesticide enantiomers and geometric isomers. A number of commercially available cyclodextrins ({dollar}beta{dollar}-CD, {dollar}gamma{dollar}-CD, and their derivatives) were added to the run buffer alone or in combination with a surfactant to obtain resolution of the model pesticide enantiomers/geometric isomers. The model pesticides used in these experiments included imazaquin, diclofop, imazamethabenz, propiconazole, bioallethrin, fenpropathrin, phenothrin, bitertanol, triadimenol, and dimethomorph. The CE methods used to separate the pesticide enantiomers/isomers were simple, rapid, inexpensive and highly efficient.; Finally, CE was evaluated as a new analytical technique for analysis of DNA-adducts (biomarkers of exposure to cancer causing chemicals). A highly sensitive CE method based on laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed for analysis of DNA adducts and the CE/LIF method was used to analyze benzo (a) pyrene-dGMP adduct at the femtomole level. |
