Sensitive absorbance detection method for capillary electrophoresis based on laser wave-mixing

Forward-scattering four-wave mixing is demonstrated as a sensitive absorbance detection method for capillary electrophoresis, using an argon ion laser operating at 457.9 nm. Since this four-wave mixing laser technique utilizes only two input laser beams, it offers important advantages, including ease of optical alignment, high wave-mixing efficiency and low excitation power requirements. In addition, since the analytical signal is a laser-like coherent beam, highly efficient optical signal detection can be performed with minimum optical background noise. Excellent detection sensitivity and short absorption path lengths, and hence, small detector probe volumes, are some of the useful features this absorbance detection method offers for on-column detection of both fluorescing and non-fluorescing analytes in capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography. Preliminary ''detected'' concentration detection limit of 8.5.10(-8) M, mass detection limit of 13 amol and an absorbance-unit detection limit of 1.35.10(-5) AU are determined for dabsyl-glycine using this absorbance detection method.