Abstract:

An innovative home-made teaching apparatus, named capillary electrophoresis enrichment apparatus was developed and used in the undergraduate analytical chemistry laboratory course. The main contents of this developed enrichment apparatus, including the principle, the performance parameters, the operating instructions, enrichment factor and applications in teaching process, were introduced and discussed in detail. Based on the particle samples, the enrichment efficiency and influencing factors were roundly tested. As a result, this laboratory-built enrichment apparatus can provide 560-fold enrichment factor, which will greatly improve the detection limits and expand the applications of capillary electrophoresis, as well as instrumental analytical methods in many fields. The original instrumental analytical chemistry experiment had been deeply modified using this apparatus in order to train the undergraduates with more complex assay. This newly developed enrichment apparatus is easy-to-use as well as cost-effective, and presents highly enhanced sensitivity.

Key words: Innovative teaching apparatus, Capillary electrophoresis enrichment apparatus, Laboratory teaching reform, Instrumental analysis laboratory