A chromatographic determination of nitrate with amperometric detection at a copperized cadmium electrode

A copperized cadmium flow-through electrode is applied for cathodic detection of nitrate in the effluent stream of a liquid chromatograph. The nitrate is separated from dissolved oxygen in a small (10 cm) column of strong-base, anion-exchange resin (Dowex 1-X8) with 5 mM perchloric acid as the eluent. The effluent stream is buffered to pH 8 by mixing with a stream of buffer prior to detection. A large excess of chloride added to the sample dramatically improves the separation of nitrate from dissolved oxygen in the sample.