The advantages of ESI-MS detection in conjunction with HILIC mode separations: Fundamentals and applications

The analysis of highly hydrophilic, ionic, and polar compounds has been performed by HILIC-ESI-MS for the last few years. The use of low aqueous/high polar organic solvent content in HILIC separation mobile phase is almost ideal for ESI-MS detection in many cases, resulting in increased sensitivity. Although the addition of modifiers such as acids or salts is necessary in some circumstances for a good separation, the optimum concentrations used are still highly amenable for ESI-MS analysis, showing few deleterious effects. In this review, the mechanism of HILIC separation and EST ion generation will be briefly discussed, followed by a summary of method development and applications in several fields of research including pharmaceutical, biomolecular, food, metabolic, and environmental analysis.