Simultaneous determination of mono- and bivalent cations in environmental chemistry using isocratic ion chromatography

Summary The influence of the pH of the mobile phase ethylenediamine (EDA)/citrate on the retention behaviour of mono- and bivalent cations on a silica based cationexchange stationary phase was studied. Variation of the pH-value was accomplished either by changing the concentration of one component of the eluent or by adding potassium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid to an eluent of fixed composition. The pH range between 2.8 and 3.0 proved to be most suitable for the separation of mono- and bivalent cations. Alkali metals, alkaline earths and transition elements could be separated in a single run. Extending the pH-range up to 5.2 showed the possibility of an additional determination of more strongly retained ions, such as Pb²⁺ or Sr²⁺.

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Simultanbestimmung ein- und zweiwertiger Kationen in der Umweltchemie mit Hilfe der isokratischen Ionen-Chromatographie

     

Separation of oxyanions of phosphorus by single column ion chromatography

Separation of mixtures containing hypophosphite, phosphite, orthophosphate, chloride, nitrate and sulphate ions has been achieved using a Vydac 300 IC 405 column, refractive index detection and eluents which were 2mM in p-hydroxy benzoic acid or 4mM in p-amino benzoic acid (adjusted to ph 5.5). Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 3 to 30 mg P/l.; and the precision (RSD for peak heights in mixtures) was < +/- 10%. Using p-hydroxy benzoic acid, detection of eluted peaks by indirect UV absorption was equally satisfactory. In an initial survey, the elution behaviour of nine oxyanions of phosphorus (simple ions and condensed species) was examined, using eluents containing different organic carboxylic acids (six aliphatic and nine aromatic), present at levels of 1 to 5m(M); with the pH adjusted to values between 3 and 8.6. No suitable conditions for separating mixtures containing condensed phosphates were identified.     

On-line monitoring of wastewater using ion chromatography

Ion Chromatography (IC) has been used for the on-line determination of anions and cations in a variety of process streams. On-line monitoring of process and wastewater streams optimizes the control of treatment methods by providing early indications of problems that could increase discharges of hazardous compounds to the environment. It is important for the immediate detection and remediation of process upsets in critical streams. The waste flow to the Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is processed before discharge and requires monitoring. Process chromatography is used to monitor the trends of contaminants in real time. The purpose of this study is to develop an automated on-line IC procedure for the simultaneous determination of anions in LANL wastewater.     

Isolation of Pu-isotopes from environmental samples using ion chromatography for accelerator mass spectrometry and alpha spectrometry

A radiochemical method for the isolation of plutonium-isotopes from environmental samples, based on the use of specific extraction chromatography resins for actinides (TEVA^®, Eichrom Industries, Inc.), has been set up in our laboratory and optimised for their posterior determination by alpha spectrometry (AS) or accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The proposed radiochemical method has replaced in our lab a well-established one based on the use of a relatively un-specific anion-exchange resin (AG^® 1X8, Bio-rad Laboratories, Inc.), because it is clearly less time consuming, reduces the amounts and molarities of acid wastes produced, and reproducibly gives high radiochemical yields.In order to check the reliability of the proposed radiochemical method for the determination of plutonium-isotopes in different environmental matrixes, twin aliquots of a set of samples were prepared with TEVA^® and with AG^® 1X8 resins and measured by AS. Some samples prepared with TEVA^® resins were measured as well by AMS. As it is shown in the text, there is a comfortable agreement between AS and AMS, which adequately validates the method.     

Developments in ion chromatography using monolithic columns

The focus of this review is on current status and on-going developments in ion chromatography (IC) using monolithic phases. The use and potential of both silica and polymeric monoliths in IC is discussed, with silica monoliths achieving efficiencies upwards of 10(5) plates/m for inorganic ions in a few minutes or less. Ion exchange capacity can be introduced onto the monolithic columns through the addition of ion interaction reagents to the eluent, coating of the monolith with ionic surfactants or polyelectrolyte latexes, and covalent bonding. The majority of the studies to date have used surfactant-coated columns, but the stability of surfactant coatings limits this approach. Applications of monolithic IC columns to the separation of inorganic anions and cations are tabulated. Finally, a discussion on the recent commercialization of monolithic IC columns and the use of monolithic phases for IC peripherals such as preconcentrator columns, microextractors and suppressors is presented.     

New materials: analytical and environmental applications in ion chromatography

This review details ion chromatography developments and related applications, mainly in the field of environmental analysis, gained by the evolution in the science and technology for new stationary phases. Unconventional approaches to ion chromatographic separations are also outlined.     

Analysis of polyaromatic quinones in a complex environmental matrix using gas chromatography ion trap tandem mass spectrometry

GC/MS and GC/MS/MS in a quadrupole ion trap were used to analyze for anthraquinone, alkyl anthraquinones, benz[a]anthracene-7, 12-dione and 9-fluoranone in a sediment obtained from an aluminum smelter settling pond contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By standard GC/MS analysis many of these target compounds were either undetectable or their confirmation uncertain because of matrix interferences. Detection and identification were greatly improved by using GC/MS/MS. GC/MS/MS analyses were performed by selecting the molecular ion (M) of a target compound and fragmenting it via collision induced dissocation (CID) to yield product ions corresponding to loss of CO for unsubstituted compounds or CO plus CH(3) for alkylated compounds. The CID conditions were optimized using anthraquinone and 2-methylanthraquinone standards by varying the CID excitation energy and RF storage levels to yield optimum amounts of fragment ions. CID experiments were performed using both resonant and non-resonant wave forms. Although both excitation techniques gave comparable results for the removal of matrix interferences, non-resonant excitation provided more characteristic spectra for the alkylated anthraquinones. Monitoring of secondary fragmentation products, such as M-2CO, provided greater discrimination from matrix interferences than the use of primary fragmentation products, such as M-CO.     

New block-grafted anion exchanger for environmental water analysis by ion chromatography

The IonPac AS14A is a recently developed stationary phase that was produced using a new block-grafting technique, which enables the preparation of high-water-content anion exchangers with excellent peak shape and good chromatographic efficiency. The performance of this column for the analysis of inorganic anions was compared to that obtained using an IonPac AS4A column, which is specified in US Environmental Protection Agency Method 300.0, in addition to another commonly used alternative; the AS14 column. The AS14A column is available in two different formats; 250×4 mm I.D. (7.0 μm diameter particle) and 150×3 mm I.D. (5.5 μm diameter particle). The IonPac AS14A (in 4 mm I.D. format) was found to provide similar performance to the AS14 column with increased peak efficiency and better pH stability and is a suitable alternative for the analysis of anions in moderate- to high-ionic-strength samples. The IonPac AS14A (in 3 mm I.D. format) provides comparable run times to the AS4A column with better overall peak selectivity and improved fluoride resolution, hence this column would be a suitable column to substitute in place of either the AS4A or AS14 columns for the analysis of inorganic anions in low- to moderate-ionic-strength environmental waters. The AS14A column used with an Atlas electrolytic suppressor provides equivalent method detection limits to those obtained when using a micromembrane suppressor but with the operational convenience of a self-regenerating suppressor.     

Fast ion chromatography using short anion exchange columns

A fast ion chromatographic system is described which uses shorter column lengths and compares various eluent profiles in order to maximise the performance without sacrificing the chromatographic resolution. Both isocratic and gradient elution profiles were considered to find the most efficient mode of separation. The separation and determination of seven target anions (chloride, chlorate, nitrate, chromate, sulfate, thiocyanate and perchlorate) was achieved using a short (4 mm ID, 50 mm long) column packed with Dionex AS20 high-capacity anion exchange material. A hydroxide eluent was used at an initial concentration of 25 mM (at a flow-rate of 1.0 mL/min) and two performance maxima were found. The maximum efficiency occurred at a normalised gradient ramp rate of 5 mM/t₀, resulting in a peak capacity of 16, while the fastest separation (<3 min) occurred at a normalised ramp rate of 30 mM/t₀. The retention time, peak width and resolution using the different eluent profiles on varying column lengths is also compared. Further investigations in this study determined that the highest peak capacity separation under gradient conditions could be approximated using an isocratic separation. The advantage of using this novel approach to approximate the maximum efficiency separation removes the need for column re-equilibration that is required for gradient elution resulting in faster analyses and enhanced sample throughput, with benefits in particular for multidimensional chromatography.     

Determination of aluminium using high performance chelation ion chromatography

The suitability of high performance chelation ion chromatography (HPCIC) using postcolumn reaction for the separation and determination of dissolved aluminium in complex samples was investigated. Use of a chelating ion-exchanger allowed for differentiation between kinetically labile and kinetically stable species of aluminium. Separation through a combination of chelation and cation-exchange was achieved using a 200 x 4.0 mm id column packed with particles of silica functionalised with iminodiacetic acid, with nitric acid-potassium chloride eluents. A temperature anomaly causing a five-fold increase in column efficiency for aluminium is believed to be a result of localised temperature effects in the particular type of instrument used. Postcolumn reagents investigated for the photometric detection included Tiron, Pyrocatechol Violet, Chrome Azurol S, and Eriochrome Cyanine R. The lowest detection limit (2.7 microg/L for a 100 microL sample volume) was achieved using 0.25 mM Eriochrome Cyanine R in 0.2 M hexamine (pH 6.1) with 1 mM cetyltrimethylpyridium bromide (CTAB). The optimised HPCIC system was applied successfully to the quantification of labile aluminium in paper mill process water.     

Flow injection dialysis for the determination of anions using ion chromatography

Flow injection dialysis (FID) coupling with ion chromatography (IC) is proposed for simultaneous determination of some anions (bromide, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and sulfate). A standard or sample containing the anions is injected into a donor stream of a mixture (0.022 M Na(2)CO(3) and 0.028 M NaHCO(3)) flowing into a dialysis cell. The bolus of the dialysate containing the anions, in the acceptor stream of water, flows to the IC injection valve where a portion of the bolus is injected into the IC and analysed under normal IC conditions, with a conductivity detector. FID provides on-line separation and dilution of the analytes from matrix especially from some species such as proteins, surfactant, particulates which may cause damage to the IC columns. Prolongation of life-time of the IC columns is an additional advantage to others which will be discussed. On-line dialysis-IC was also investigated.     

Monitoring the redox cycle of low-molecular peptides using a modified target plate in MALDI-MS

A new method is being proposed for preparing MALDI target plates with a hydrophobic polymer coating and hydrophilic anchors. The particles of the MALDI matrix were pre-mixed with a poly[4,5-difluoro-2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dioxole-co-tetrafluoroethylene] solution prior to their placement on a mass-spectrometric sample support. This technique led to the formation of matrix microspots with a diameter of less than 1 mm inside the polymer. The polymer and matrix concentration as well as the amount of suspension placed on the target plate influenced the size and quality of microspots to a great extent. The sensitivity of the mass-spectrometric analysis was confirmed by obtaining the mass spectra of fmole concentrations of an apomyoglobin tryptic digest. The potential proteomic application of this type of MALDI surface preparation was demonstrated by performing the redox cycle using glutathione and its analogue. All reactions were carried out directly on a MALDI plate, which accommodates low volumes of reagents and prevents sample loss.     

Separation of citric acid cycle intermediates by high-performance liquid chromatography with ion pairing

A method to separate underivatized tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates within 20 min using the commonly available C15 high-performance liquid chromatography column has been developed. Ion pairing using tetrabutylammonium cations and isocratic conditions is used to separate the intermediates which are then detected at 210 nm. Separation was optimized by altering pH, the concentration of sodium sulfate and the pairing ion. This technique permits the detection of as little as 120 nmol of citrate to 0.5 nmol of fumarate. Physiological samples of rat liver mitochondria, human urine, and orange juice were analyzed.     

Measurement of radionuclides using ion chromatography and on-line radiation detection

Summary A technique is presented for the relatively rapid measurement of actinide and beta-emitting radionuclides in waste streams and environmental samples. It uses ion chromatography for elemental selectivity and flow-through scintillation counting with dual parameter pulse-height and pulse-shape analysis for alpha/beta detection and discrimination. The system was tested for one surrogate sample (spiked groundwater from the southeastern U.S.) and two actual samples from the Savannah River Site (supernatant from a highactivity drain tank and sludge from a high level waste tank). For the spiked groundwater, recoveries were quantitative for all of the analytes (americium, curium, plutonium, and strontium) except uranium. For the actual samples, which contained americium, curium, plutonium, strontium, and cesium, the results using the system were within 20% of those obtained independently. Based on these tests, it is concluded that the system is capable of analyzing alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides in samples that are representative of those encountered at contaminated former weapons sites.     

Retention behavior of high performance ion chromatography using binary eluants

The retention behavior of high performance ion chromatography using binary eluants is given. The relationship between log(t_R) and log(1/[E]) is linear, which has been demonstrated experimentally with mixed anion solution.     

A new process using a redox type of ion exchanger for cesium separation

A sorption-desorption-regeneration cycle composed of sorption of cesium on the sorbent in reduced state from strong nitric acid medium in the presence of an inhibitor such as hydrazinium salt, desorption of cesium by converting the spent sorbent into an oxidized state with a strong nitric acid eluent containing nitrous acid, and regeneration of the sorbent with a reducing agent such as hydrazinium salt was found to be possible with practically no loss of the sorbents when insoluble hexacyanoferrates of copper were used as redox type of ion exchangers.     

离子色谱法测定海产品中磷酸盐、焦磷酸盐、偏磷酸盐和总磷

建立了离子色谱法测定海产品中磷酸盐、焦磷酸盐、偏磷酸盐和总磷的分析方法。样品经100 mmol/L NaOH溶液浸提,固相萃取柱去除有机物、阳离子、中和OH~后用于海产品中磷酸盐、焦磷酸盐和偏磷酸盐的测定;样品经干灰化法消化,固相萃取柱净化后用于总磷测定。考察了提取溶液的pH、有机物和共存离子对测定结果的影响。该方法的线性范围为0.3～60 mg/L,检出限为2.1～2.3 mg/kg,相对标准偏差为1.6%～2.6%。海鱼和虾仁样品中目标物的加标回收率为81.8%～100.0%。该方法选择性好,灵敏度高,用于实际样品测定结果令人满意。     

The determination of uranium in environmental samples using extraction chromatography

Many traditional methods for the determination of actinides in environmental samples have involved several solvent extraction and/or ion exchange steps that separate the radionuclide of interest from the bulk sample matrix. These methods are generally labor-intensive employ hazardous substances and generate considerable volume of toxic wastes. Extraction chromatographic resins have been developed that combine the power and selectivity of solvent extraction with the ease of use of ion exchange chromatographic resin. Some of these extraction chromatographic resins have been developed that will selectively sorb a particular radionuclide or groups of radionuclides from solution. A considerable amount of interest has recently been shown in these resins as they are claimed to be cost-effective in terms of increasing sample throughput, eliminating the need for expensive solvent extractants and being generally safer to handle. One such commercially available resin, U/TEVA.Spec^® will selectively absorb uranium and tetravalent actinides such as thorium and plutonium from an acidic nitrate solution. This paper describes the application of U/TEVA.Spec^® to the determination of uranium in a range of environmental samples.     

Electrostatic ion chromatography using a carboxybetaine-type zwitterionic surfactant as the stationary phase

A carboxybetaine-type zwitterionic stationary phase obtained by immobilizing Mitsubishi Reagent EF-700 (C(8)F(17)SO(2)NHC(3)H(6)N(+) (CH(3))(2)-C(2)H(4)-COO(-)) onto a reversed-phase column was used for chromatographic separation of ions. When aqueous electrolyte solutions having higher pH values (>8) were used as eluents, the model analyte ions (NO(2)(-), H(2)PO(4)(-), Cl(-), Br(-), NO(3)(-), ClO(3)(-), I(-) and SCN(-)) were co-eluted and appeared at the void volume of this HPLC system. However, when aqueous electrolyte solutions having lower pH values (<5.5) were used as eluents, these anions were well retained and separated. Furthermore, when acetate buffers (NaAc/HAc) were used as eluents, plots of log k' (k', retention factor) versus pH of eluents (at constant [NaAc+HAc]), and log k' versus log [NaAc+HAc] (at constant pH), were linear with negative slopes. Breakthrough curves for acid solutions obtained using conductivity detection showed that H(+) ions and their conjugate anions were both retained on the stationary phase and the degree of binding was found to be independent of the acid species used. The degree to which the eluent cation was bound onto the carboxylate functionality of the zwitterion was found to exert a major effect on the retention of analyte anions. A strongly bound cation, such as H(+), reduced electrostatic repulsion effects exerted by the carboxylate functionality on analyte anions, so that they could freely access the quaternary ammonium sites on the zwitterion. It is concluded based on these experimental results that both the charges on the zwitterionic stationary phase make meaningful contributions to the separation of the analyte ions.