Capillary electrophoresis - Mass spectrometry: 15 years of developments and applications

Since its introduction in 1987, capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry (CE-MS) has developed to a well accepted multidimensional analytical approach complementary and/or competitive to classical MS-hyphenated separation techniques. The three-fold combination of rapid developments of an exceptional separation technique, of selective mass detection possibilities, and of very mild ionization modes first allowed these progresses. This article shows the CE specificities that need to be well controlled/known, compared to classical and more routinely used liquid chromatography in the light of its coupling to MS. The major trends and developments over the last 15 years and most of the reviews and applications found in ISI Web of science and publisher databases are presented in a tabulated way. The reader can thus rapidly find existing CE-MS analysis techniques in his field of research and application (forensics, environment, bioanalytics, pharmaceutics, and metabolites).