Chemometrics optimization of six antihistamines separations by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection

This work expanded the knowledge of the use of chemometric experimental design in optimizing of six antihistamines separations by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemiluminescence detection. Specially, central composite design was employed for optimizing the three critical electrophoretic variables (Tris-H3PO4 buffer concentration, buffer pH value and separation voltage) using the chromatography resolution statistic function (CRS function) as the response variable. The optimum conditions were established from empirical model: 24.2 mM Tris-H3PO4 buffer (pH 2.7) with separation voltage of 15.9 kV. Applying theses conditions, the six antihistamines (carbinoxamine, chlorpheniramine, cyproheptadine, doxylamine, diphenhydramine and ephedrine) could be simultaneous separated in less than 22 min. Our results indicate that the chemometrics optimization method can greatly simplify the optimization procedure for multi-component analysis. The proposed method was also validated for linearity, repeatability and sensitivity, and was successfully applied to determine these antihistamine drugs in urine. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.