Determination of trace anions in concentrated weak acids by ion chromatography

Ion-exclusion chromatography (ICE) followed by ion chromatography (IC) was used for the determination of trace anionic contaminants in concentrated weak acids. The ICE separation was used as a pretreatment step to isolate the contaminant anions of strong acids from the excess of matrix ions. Then a fraction containing the analyte ions was separated using IC with suppressed conductivity detection. Microbore–ion-exchange columns were chosen to address the increased purity requirements for use of these concentrated acids in semiconductor applications. The chromatographic conditions were optimized for determining trace chloride, sulfate, phosphate, and nitrate in concentrated 24.5% (v/v) hydrofluoric acid; trace chloride, sulfate, and nitrate in concentrated 85% (w/w) phosphoric acid and trace chloride and sulfate in concentrated 0.7% (v/v) glycolic acid. Method detection limits for the anions of interest were below 100 μg/l.     

Determination of anions in landfill leachates by ion chromatography

Ion chromatography has been used to determine inorganic and organic anions within landfill leachates. Two procedures are operated on split samples which have multiple dilutions and vary in sample treatment: gradient ion-exchange chromatography for inorganic anions and isocratic ion-exclusion chromatography for organic anions. Interference between carbonate and organic acid anions using ion-exclusion chromatography is avoided by treatment with octanesulphonic acid eluent. Using ion-exchange chromatography, the presence of valerate, hexanoate and heptanoate is checked (but not quantified) for a subsample which has been treated to remove chloride; these species are then determined by ion-exclusion chromatography. Analysis of certified standards (10 mg/1 certified VFA standard; Supelco, Bellefonte, PA, USA; 20–150 mg/l inorganic anions, ICMIX1-100, Glen Spectra Reference Materials, Middlesex, UK) gives good agreement (within 5% for organic anions except formate, and within 1% for inorganic anions), with R.S.D. values for all anionic species varying from 0.44–2.23.     

Determination of trace inorganic anions in seawater samples by ion chromatography using silica columns modified with cetyltrimethylammonium ion

Conventional silica columns dynamically modified with cetyltrimethylammonium ions were evaluated for the determination of UV-absorbing bromide, nitrate, and nitrite in seawater samples. Cetyltrimethylammonium, which is a quaternary ammonium ion, was dynamically introduced onto silica surfaces. The first layer of the modifier was introduced by electrostatic interaction, whereas the second layer was introduced by hydrophobic interaction. The latter layer worked as the anion-exchange sites. The modified conventional silica columns could be used for separation of inorganic anions. Separation of authentic mixture of five anions was achieved within 17 min. The addition of 0.1 mM cetyltrimethylammonium ion to the eluent improved the repeatability of the retention time. Seawater samples could be directly injected onto the prepared conventional silica columns, and bromide, nitrate, and nitrite levels were determined to be 69, 0.13, and 0.016 ppm, respectively.     

Determination of trace level perchlorate in drinking water and ground water by ion chromatography

Ammonium perchlorate, a key ingredient in solid rocket propellants, has recently been found in ground and surface waters in the USA in a number of states, including California, Nevada, Utah, and West Virginia. Perchlorate poses a health risk and preliminary data from the US Environmental Protection Agency reports that exposure to less than 4–18 μg/l provides adequate human health protection. An ion chromatographic method was developed for the determination of low μg/l levels of perchlorate in drinking and ground waters based on a Dionex IonPac AS11 column, a 100 mM hydroxide eluent, large loop (1000 μl) injection, and suppressed conductivity detection. The method is free of interferences from common anions, linear in the range of 2.5–100 μg/l, and quantitative recoveries were obtained for low μg/l levels of perchlorate in spiked drinking and ground water samples. The method detection limit of 0.3 μg/l permits quantification of perchlorate below the levels which ensure adequate health protection. A new polarizable anion analysis column, the IonPac AS16, and its potential applicability for this analysis is also discussed.     

Effect of temperature on retention and selectivity in ion chromatography of anions

The temperature dependence of retention of a wide range of inorganic anions is studied on two commercially available ion exchangers (Dionex AS11 and AS14 columns). Anion retention exhibited both exothermic and endothermic behavior, such that varying the temperature from ambient to 60°C produced selectivity changes. The anions displayed three groupings of temperature dependence: weakly retained singly charged anions (e.g., iodate, bromate, nitrite, bromide and nitrate); multiply charged anions (sulfate, oxalate, phosphate and thiosulfate); and strongly retained singly charged anions (iodide, thiocyanate and perchlorate). Temperature was ineffective at changing the selectivity of retention between anions of the same grouping. However, significant selectivity changes, including elution order reversal, could be achieved between anions from different groupings.     

Chemiluminescence nitrogen detection in ion chromatography for the determination of nitrogen-containing anions

Chemiluminescence nitrogen detection (CLND) provides equimolar response for nitrogen-containing ions such as nitrate, nitrite, cyanide, ammonium and tetradecyltrimethylammonium. Only azide yields a lower response. Nitrite, azide and nitrate are separated on a Dionex AS11 column using 5 mM NaOH as eluent with a 3 μM (1 ng N) limit of detection. Matrices, such as 1:10 diluted seawater, do not degrade these detection limits. CLND also provides equally sensitive (limit of detection 3 μM, 78 ppb) detection of weak acids such, as cyanide, which yield poor sensitivity with suppressed conductivity detection.     

单泵柱切换离子色谱法分析复杂基体中痕量阴离子

本文通过离子色谱与柱切换技术联用实现了高浓度样品基体中的痕量阴离子检测.分别研究了不同类型基体的处理方法,使用商品化离子排斥柱和自制的聚合物色谱柱实现多种样品基体中痕量阴离子的检测.同时开发一种简化的单泵柱切换系统,利用抑制器将KOH淋洗液转化为水作为前处理柱的淋洗液,在同一个色谱系统中产生两种淋洗液,实现色谱分离与前...     

Analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts by single pump cycling‐column‐switching ion chromatography

The application of ion chromatography with the single pump cycling‐column‐switching technique was described for the analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts within a single run. Due to the hydrogen ions provided by an anion suppressor electrolyzing water, weak acid anions could be transformed into weak acids, existing as molecules, after passing through the suppressor. Therefore, an anion suppressor and ion‐exclusion column were adopted to achieve on‐line matrix elimination of weak acid anions with high concentration for the analysis of trace inorganic anions in weak acid salts. A series of standard solutions consisting of target anions of various concentrations from 0.005 to 10 mg/L were analyzed, with correlation coefficients r ≥ 0.9990. The limits of detection were in the range of 0.67 to 1.51 μg/L, based on the signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 and a 25 μL injection volume. Relative standard deviations for retention time, peak area, and peak height were all less than 2.01%. A spiking study was performed with satisfactory recoveries between 90.3 and 104.4% for all anions. The chromatographic system was successfully applied to the analysis of trace inorganic anions in five weak acid salts.     

Effect of eluent composition on retention behavior of anions in ion chromatography on anion-exchangers modified with heparin

Effects of eluent composition on retention behavior of inorganic anions have been investigated in ion chromatography using anion-exchangers modified with heparin. Both cation and anion of the eluent affected the retention of analyte anions and unusual retention behavior was observed on the modified stationary phase. The retention time of anions decreased with decreasing eluent concentration when sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate and chlorides of alkali metals were used as the eluent, whereas it increased with decreasing eluent concentration when aluminum sulfate, copper sulfate and sulfuric acid were used as the eluent. The retention of nitrate increased in the order of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ when their chlorides were used as the eluent. When sodium perchlorate and chlorides of alkaline-earth metals were used as the eluent, the eluent should include heparin. Otherwise, the modifier was partially bled from the column.     

Critical comparison of retention models for the optimisation of the separation of anions in ion chromatography: II. Suppressed anion chromatography using carbonate eluents

Seven theoretical retention models, namely the linear solvent strength model (using the dominant equilibrium approach and competing ion effective charge approach), the dual eluent species model, the Kuwamoto model, the extended dual eluent species model, the multiple species eluent/analyte model and the empirical end-points model, were used to describe the retention behaviour of anions in suppressed ion chromatography (IC). An extensive set of experimental retention data was gathered for 24 anions (fluoride, formate, bromate, chloride, hexanesulfonate, bromide, chlorate, nitrate, iodide, thiocyanate, perchlorate, sulfite, succinate, sulfate, tartrate, selenate, oxalate, tungstate, phthalate, molybdate, chromate, thiosulfate and phosphate) on a Dionex AS4A-SC column using carbonate eluents of varying concentration and HCO₃⁻:CO₃²⁻ ratios. Statistical comparison of the predicted and experimentally obtained retention factors showed that the performance of the theoretical models improved with the complexity of the model. However the empirical model (in which a linear relationship is assumed between the logarithm of retention factor and the logarithm of eluent strength, but the slope is determined empirically) gave the most consistent performance across the widest range of anions. The empirical end-points model was also shown to be the most satisfactory model due to its low knowledge requirements and easy solution. Compared with non-suppressed IC (see Part I), the retention behaviour in suppressed IC was found to be easier to model by all retention models.     

Determination of inorganic anions in ethyl acetate by in-line hollow fiber membrane extraction with ion chromatography

In this work,a novel hollow fiber membrane extractor was set up to extract inorganic anions from ethyl acetate using deionized water.Inorganic anions in slightly soluble organic solvents can be determined by the in-line hollow fiber membrane extractor coupled with ion chromatography at first time.Different aspects of the extraction procedure such as magnetic stirring speed, extraction flow rate and extraction time were optimized to achieve high extraction efficiency and good separation results. Satisfact...     

Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions, calcium and magnesium by suppressed ion chromatography

Suppressed conductimetric detection ion chromatography (IC) was investigated for the separation and detection of common inorganic anions, calcium and magnesium by anion-exchange chromatography using a sodium carbonate-EDTA mobile phase. The formation of anionic Ca2+ -EDTA and Mg2+ -EDTA complexes allowed its separation from other inorganic anions opening the way for their simultaneous determination in a single chromatographic run. The effect of the pH, carbonate and EDTA concentrations in the eluent and the previous addition of EDTA to the samples has been studied. The optimised experimental conditions were applied to the determination of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in mineral waters with results in agreement with alternative ICP-MS methodologies.     

Manipulation of separation selectivity of inorganic anions in electrostatic ion chromatography by the use of mixed cationic–zwitterionic micelles as the column coating solution

This paper describes an electrostatic ion chromatographic system in which the separation selectivity for inorganic anions, especially for sulfate and phosphate, could be manipulated by altering the molar ratio of the zwitterionic and cationic surfactants in the column coating solution used to prepare the stationary phase. The zwitterionic surfactant used for this study was 3-(N,N-dimethyltetradecylammonio)propanesulfonate (Zwittergent-3-14) and the cationic surfactant was tetradecyltrimethylammonium (TTA). Using a reversed-phase C₁₈ column (250×4.6 mm I.D.) coated with 10/10 (mM/mM) of TTA/Zwittergent-3-14 mixed micelles as the stationary phase and either NaHCO₃ or Na₂CO₃ aqueous solution as the eluent, together with suppressed conductivity detection, baseline separation of seven model inorganic anions was obtained. The elution order for those anions was found to be F⁻4²⁻−4²⁻2⁻−3⁻. Under the same conditions but using 1/10 (mM/mM) of TTA/Zwittergent-3-14 mixed micelles as the column coating solution, the elution order for these model ions was F⁻4²⁻4²⁻−2⁻−3⁻. The early elution of phosphate and sulfate is a unique attribute of this system. Detection limits for F⁻, HPO₄²⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₂⁻, Br⁻ and NO₃⁻ (S/N=3, sample injection volume 100 μl) were 0.11, 0.12, 0.12, 0.18, 0.49, 0.49, 0.52 μM, respectively.     

Performance of ion chromatography in the determination of anions and cations in various natural waters with elevated mineralization

The performance of ion chromatography in the determination of anions and cations in natural mineral waters of different composition and different total mineralization was evaluated. Up to 12 ions of the 20 usually included in extended chemical analysis of natural waters were successfully determined by ion chromatography alone. At least 98.60% and up to 99.96% of total cation composition of mineral waters was determined by ion chromatography. Hydrogen carbonate predominated in anion composition of mineral waters and was determined titrimetrically. The percentage of anions determined by ion chromatography in the remaining anion composition of mineral waters was between 98.90% and 99.96%. The agreement between total concentrations of anions and cations in individual mineral waters determined predominantly by ion chromatography is very good and the performance of ion chromatography for the basic and for the extended chemical analysis of highly mineralized water samples is very high. Method development was assisted by previously developed algorithms and appropriate experimental conditions are also discussed.     

Combination of suppressed and non-suppressed ion chromatography with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry for the determination of anions

Non-suppressed and suppressed ion chromatography in combination with atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry are compared with special respect to sensitivity for the analysis of low-molecular-mass anions. Iodate, bromate, bromide, sulfate, thiosulfate and bromide could be separated by non-suppressed ion chromatography using a low-capacity anion-exchange column and ammonium citrate as mobile phase. Absolute detection limits between 0.4 and 0.7 ng could be achieved; employing a column requiring a flow-rate of 1 ml/min for optimum performance, splitting was necessary so that only 120 μl/min entered the interface of the mass spectrometer resulting in detection limits between 0.03 and 0.06 mg/l. The same stationary phase (packed into a narrow-bore column which allowed operation without splitting) was suitable for the separation of oxyhalides in the suppressed mode with detection limits of 0.5 μg/l (50 pg) with sodium carbonate as eluent. The method was applied to the analysis of drinking water for oxyhalides. The sample pretreatment for the removal of matrix anions (sulfate, chloride and hydrogencarbonate) is described.     

Use of factorial experimental design for the rapid evaluation of main and interactive factors affecting linearity in calibration curves for sulfate analysis by ion chromatography

Analytical results of anion determination by suppressed ion chromatography are significantly affected by calibration curve calculation. In this paper, as expected, eluent pK_a is shown to influence calibration linearity in the range 1–20 mg/l sulfate, with A carbonate-hydrogencarbonate mixture producing a larger non-linearity than NaOH. Evidence is given for very large errors (about 30–40%) in estimating sample sulfate concentration when linear regression is used instead of a quadratic calibration curve. This study was performed following a 2⁴ run full factorial experimental design, including eluent pK_a, counterion type, solution composition and current level for background suppression as main variables.     

The role of nitric oxide in cancer improved methods for measurement of nitrite and nitrate by high-performance ion chromatography

The short lifetime of nitric oxide (NO) in vivo impedes its quantitation directly; however, the determination of nitrite and nitrate ions as the end-products of NO oxidation has proven a more practical approach. High-performance ion chromatographic analysis of nitrite in biological fluids is hampered by the large amount of chloride ion (up to 100mmol/l) which results in insufficient peak resolution when utilizing conductimetric detection. Analysis of both anions in small sample volumes is also constrained by the need to minimise sample handling to avoid contamination by environmental nitrate. We report a means to remove Cl⁻ ions from small sample volumes using Ag⁺ resin which facilitates quantitation of either nitrite and nitrate anions in biological samples, using silica or polymer based ion-exchange resins with conductimetric or electrochemical and spectrophotometric detection. Including a reversed-phase guard column before the anion-exchange guard and analytical column also greatly extends column lifetime.     

柠檬酸试剂中痕量无机阴阳离子的离子色谱法测定

选用柱容量较高、亲水性较强的阴离子分析柱IonPac AS18,以30mmol／L KOH为淋洗液,等度淋洗分析了高浓度柠檬酸中的痕量无机阴离子。选用柱容量较高的阳离子分析柱IonPac CS12A,以H2SO4作淋洗液分析了柠檬酸试剂中的痕量阳离子。在所选色谱条件下,无需样品前处理,直接进样,电导检测,高浓度柠檬酸不影响痕量阴离子或阳离子的测定。方法具有良好的线性(r=0．9941～1．000),样品中所测离子峰面积的相对标准偏差(RSD)均在9．0％以下(n=7),回收率在82．7％～110％之间,检出限低于3．7μg/L。     

Determination of impurities in clodronic acid by anion-exchange chromatography

A validated ion chromatographic method for the determination of anionic impurities in clodronic acid or disodium clodronate is described. Separations are performed by using an anion-exchange column (IonPac AS5) and a sodium hydroxide gradient. Impurities are detected by suppressed conductivity without the need for derivatisation. The most important variable affecting the separation was shown to be the column temperature.     

Analysis of ions in polar ice core samples by use of large injection volumes in ion chromatography

In the present study a non-suppressed ion chromatography system with conductivity detection was tested in terms of sampling effects, the effects on the ion separation efficiency and analysis detection limits to find optimum conditions for the determination of chloride, nitrate, sulfate, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium and magnesium ions in polar ice core samples.