Abstract: A method of cleaving disulfide bonds is provided, which comprises: (a) introducing a liquid sample having disulfide bonds (e.g., proteins) into an electrochemical cell; and (b) subjecting the sample to a reducing potential to reduce the disulfide bonds, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises (i) a working electrode that contains titanium and (ii) an auxiliary electrode. An electrochemical flow cell for processing a sample fluid is also provided, which comprises: (a) a body comprising a flow path having inlet and an outlet; (b) a working electrode in fluid communication with the flow path; and (c) an auxiliary electrode; wherein the working electrode comprises at least 20 wt. % titanium in the form of elemental titanium, titanium-containing substances and/or titanium-containing alloys; and wherein the outlet is connected to an electrochemical detection (ECD) device, a NMR spectrometer or a mass spectrometer (MS) when the working electrode is a ruthenium-plated titanium electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising: a sample conduit; an electrochemical flow cell; a source of carrier fluid; a structure elucidation spectrometer; a conduit and an in-line sample reservoir, such that: (a) a first operating modus wherein the sample conduit is connected to the conduit via the electrochemical flow cell and the in-line sample reservoir, and the source of carrier fluid is connected to the by-passing the in-line sample reservoir, and (b) a second operating modus wherein the sample conduit is connected to the conduit by-passing the in-line sample reservoir, and the source of carrier fluid is connected to the structure elucidation spectrometer via the in-line sample reservoir. Decoupling of the electrochemical cell from the spectrometer allows for uncompromised selection of optimal electrochemical and separation conditions.