Photothermal and light emitting diodes as detectors for trace detection in capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis is a microvolume separation technique increasingly achieving recognition for use in the separation of inorganic and organic compounds due to its short analysis time, and sample volumes in the nanoliter to picoliter range. Photothermal techniques and light emitting diodes have important advantages to offer in detection devices. This overview discusses the applications of these detectors to trace detection and determination of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, metal ions, environmental pollutants, amino acids, etc. The basic principles and advances in these detector systems and their applications using capillary electrophoresis in terms of increasing detection limits are also discussed.