ChemInform Abstract: Alkaloid Determination in Crude Extracts from Cortex Quebracho and Opium Applying Capillary Electrophoresis and Capillary Electrophoresis- Mass Spectrometry Coupling.

The applicability of capillary electrophoresis with UV and electrospray ionisation (ESI)-mass spectrometric detection to the determination of alkaloids in crude extracts of Cortex Quebracho and opium has been investigated. The use of a buffer electrolyte consisting of aqueous ammonium acetate (pH 3.1) and acetonitrile resulted in a high performance of peak resolution. Most of the alkaloids have been identified according to the signal of the protonated molecular ion in the ESI mass spectrum