Retention behavior of transition metals on a bifunctional ion-exchange column with oxalic acid as eluent

The common eluents used with a bifunctional ion-exchange column (IonPac CS5A) for separating transition metals are pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and oxalic acid (Ox). When Ox is used, cadmium and manganese co-elute. Although much research has been done to overcome the Cd²⁺–Mn²⁺ co-elution problem, the role of lithium hydroxide in separating the transition metals has received little attention. In this study, it is found that when the Ox concentration is higher than 35 mM, Cu²⁺ elutes after Pb²⁺ and Ox plays a predominant role in the retention behavior of the seven metals. When Ox concentration is lower than 35 mM especially when its concentration (25 mM) is half of the usually used standard concentration (50 mM), Cu²⁺ elutes before Pb²⁺, and at the same time, Mn²⁺and Cd²⁺ can also be baseline separated. Lithium hydroxide plays a predominant role in the separation of the metals separated by cation exchange. So, lithium hydroxide is used to adjust the pH of the eluent. The use of an isocratic elution (25 mM Ox/LiOH/2 mM Na₂SO₄, pH 3.88) allows the separation of seven metals (Cu²⁺, Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺) in a single run. The effects of inorganic modifiers such as NaNO₃, Na₂SO₄ and Na₄P₂O₇ on retention behavior of the metals are also investigated.     

Capillary electrophoresis for measuring major and trace anions in thermal water and condensed-steam samples from hydrothermal springs and fumaroles

A new application of capillary electrophoresis for measuring major and trace anions in thermal water and condensed-steam samples is presented. Ten fluid samples were collected from hydrothermal springs and fumaroles located in a volcanic zone of Deception Island, Antarctica. Anion separation was achieved in less than 6 min using indirect UV detection at 254 nm with a negative power supply (−15 kV). The electrolyte consisted of 4.7 mM sodium chromate, 4.0 mM electroosmotic flow modifier (OFM) hydroxide, 10 mM 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid and 0.1 mM calcium gluconate (pH 9.1). Major anions (Cl⁻, SO₄², PO₄H²⁻, and CO₃H⁻) were measured using hydrostatic injection (10 cm for 30 s) at 25°C. Trace amounts of anions (F⁻, Br⁻, and NO₃⁻) were better determined by electromigration injection (4 kV, 10 s) at 15°C. Good reproducibility of the migration times (<0.72% RSD), a satisfactory linear response and accuracy as well as acceptable detection limits were successfully obtained.     

Separation and detection of common mono- and divalent cations by ion chromatography with an ODS column and conductivity/UV detection

The retention and detection behavior of common mono- and divalent cations (M⁺, alkali metal (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺) and ammonium ions (NH₄⁺); M²⁺, alkaline earth metal ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺) was examined using an ODS column (150×4.6 mm I.D.) and conductivity (CD)/UV detection. The results obtained were as follows: (1) for M⁺, the mobile phase, 0.1 mM sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)+10 mM HNO₃ and indirect CD detection were effective. (2) Addition of Ce(III) in the mobile phase accelerated the elution of both M⁺ and M²⁺. The separation of above 10 cations on an ODS column was achieved for the first time without any coelution of cations and disturbance by system peak. Addition of higher SDS resulted in good separation of M⁺ and M²⁺ with longer retention times. CD detection was possible for M⁺ and M²⁺ and UV detection for M²⁺. (3) For M²⁺, the mobile phase, 0.8 mM Ce(III)+0.1 mM SDS+1 mM HNO₃ and indirect UV detection were effective. The IC methods were applied to real samples.     

Application of zirconium-modified silica gel as a stationary phase in the ion-exclusion chromatography of carboxylic acids II. Separation of aliphatic carboxylic acids with pyromellitic acid as eluent and with suppressed conductimetric detection

The application of zirconium-modified silica gels (Zr-Silica) as stationary phases for ion-exclusion chromatography with conductimetric detection (IEC–CD) for C₁–C₈ aliphatic carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, caproic, heptanoic and caprylic acids) was carried out using pyromellitic acid as the eluent. Zr-Silicas were prepared by the reaction of the silanol group on the surface of silica gel with zirconium tetrabutoxide [Zr(OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)₄] in ethanol solution. An ASRS-Ultra anion self-regenerating suppressor in the K⁺ form was used for the enhancement of conductimetric detector response of these aliphatic carboxylic acids. A Zr-Silica adsorbed on 10 mg zirconium g⁻¹ silica gel was the most suitable stationary phase in IEC–CD for the separation of these aliphatic carboxylic acids. Excellently simultaneous separation and highly sensitive detection for these aliphatic carboxylic acids were achieved in 25 min by IEC–CD with the Zr-Silica column (250×4.6 mm I.D.) and a 0.2 mM pyromellitic acid containing 0.15% heptanol as the eluent.     

Analysis of water extracts from airborne dust samples by capillary isotachophoresis

Application of capillary isotachophoresis (CITP) for the analysis of water extracts of the dust samples collected in different periods in air-filtration devices in Prague car traffic tunnels and in Parisian metro station is presented. The extracts were analyzed in cationic mode with a leading electrolyte (LE) of 10 mM KOH, 25 mM acetic acid, pH 4.4, and a terminating electrolyte (TE) of 10 mM β-alanine, adjusted to pH 4.4 with acetic acid, and in anionic mode with LE 10 mM HCl, 20 mM histidine, pH 5.8 and TE 10 mM 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid, pH 3.7. Extracted amounts of UV-absorbing substances, including pollen allergens and organic pollutants, the number of the found components and concentrations of some inorganic ions (e.g. Cl⁻, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺) in the dust samples were determined. It was found that the extracted amounts of anionic components and their number were much higher than those of cationic components. Significant differences have been found in the analyses of the extracts of different origin. Much more material and more components were present in the extracts of samples from the pollen-rich period than from the pollen-free period, especially in anionic CITP mode.     

Application of zirconium-modified silica gel as a stationary phase in the ion-exclusion chromatography of carboxylic acids I. Separation of benzenecarboxylic acids with tartaric acid as eluent and with UV-photometric detection

The application of zirconium-modified silica gels (Zr–Silicas) as stationary phases for ion-exclusion chromatography with UV-photometric detection (IEC–PD) for mono-, di-, tri- and tetrabenzenecarboxylic acids (pyromellitic, trimellitic, hemimellitic, o-phthalic, salicylic and benzoic acids) and phenol was carried out using tartaric acid as the eluent. Zr–Silicas were prepared by the reaction of the silanol group on the surface of silica gel with zirconium tetrabutoxide [Zr(OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)₄] in ethanol solution. The effect of the amount of zirconium adsorbed on silica gel on chromatographic behavior of these benzenecarboxylic acids and phenol was investigated. As a result, Zr–Silica adsorbed on 20 mg zirconium g⁻¹ silica gel was the most suitable stationary phase in the IEC–PD for the simultaneous separation of these benzenecarboxylic acids and phenol. Excellent simultaneous separation and highly sensitive UV detection at 254 nm for these benzenecarboxylic acids and phenol were achieved in 20 min by the IEC–PD using the Zr–Silica column (250×4.6 mm I.D.) and a 10 mM tartaric acid at pH 2.5 as eluent.     

Ion chromatography of organic-rich natural waters from peatlands II. Na, NH4, K, Mg and Ca

Organic rich natural waters from peat bogs in continental (Switzerland) and maritime (Shetland Islands, Scotland) environments were analysed for Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ using ion chromatography. These cations were determined simultaneously in surface and pore water samples from the continental bogs using a 250-μl injection loop in an isocratic separation. Using this loop, detection limits of the order of 1 ng/g were achieved. An organics-removal cartridge (Dionex OnGuard P) was used to remove humic materials. Analyses of deionized water filtered through these cartridges showed acceptably low blank values (e.g., ca. 5 ng/g) and appeared to have no significant effect on the measured cation concentration. For the maritime bog waters, the low concentrations of NH₄⁺ (ca. 1 μg/g) compared with Na⁺ (ca. 100 μg/g) required improved peak separation. This was accomplished using a gradient separation beginning with 40 mM HCl—1 mM , -2,3-diaminopropionic acid monochloride (DAP) and switching to 40 mM HCl-12 mM DAP after 2 min. Using a 25 μl injection loop, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were determined simultaneously in less than 25 min. In this instance, even with Na⁺/NH₄⁺ > 100, there was no interference from Na⁺ in the determination of NH₄⁺ (baseline separated).     

Retention behavior of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal cations in ion chromatography with an unmodified silica gel column

An unmodified silica gel (Develosil 30-5) column (150×4.6 mm I.D.) has been applied to the ion chromatographic separation of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal cations. The retention behavior of the above cations on the bare substrate was investigated using a number of weak inorganic and organic acid eluents. During this investigation, several separations were achieved and the most suitable eluent conditions were identified. It was concluded that: (a) 1.5 mM HNO₃-0.5mM pyridine-2,6-dicar☐ylic acid eluent was the most effective for the simultaneous separation of common alkali and alkaline earth metal cations, (b) 1.5 mM oxalic acid eluent resulted in the best separation of alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal cations, (c) 0.5 mM CuSO₄ eluent could be used for the separation of alkali metal cations alone and (d) 0.5 mM ethylenediamine-oxalic acid eluent at pH 5.5 resulted in themost efficient separation of both alkaline earth and transition metal cations.     

Simultaneous determination of anions and cations by ion-exclusion chromatography–cation-exchange chromatography with tartaric acid/18-crown-6 as eluent

Ion-exclusion chromatography–cation-exchange chromatography was developed for the simultaneous separation of common inorganic anions and cations (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻; Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) on a weakly acidic cation-exchange column by elution with weak acid. Generally, the resolution among these monovalent cations was only moderate, thereby hindering the determination of these analytes in natural-water samples. Therefore, 18-crown-6 was added to the eluent to improve the resolution. A good separation of these anions and cations on a weakly acidic cation-exchange column was achieved in 30 min by elution with 5 mM tartaric acid/6 mM 18-crown-6/methanol–water (7.5:92.5). The ion-exclusion chromatography–cation-exchange chromatography method developed here was successfully applied to the separation of major anions and cations in an environmental water sample.     

Modification of 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol postcolumn reagent selectivity through competitive equilibria with chelating ligands

Aminopolycar☐ylate ligands were added to the 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR) postcolumn reagent to alter the reagent selectivity towards transition metals. Addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) completely suppressed the reaction between PAR and the metal ions. Addition of 0.1 mM nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to 1 mM PAR lowered the response to specific transition metal ions, but completely suppressed the PAR response to the lanthanides. Increasing the NTA concentration to 8 mM resulted in complete suppression of the PAR response to all metal ions except Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ for which the detection limits were 3 and 1 ng, respectively. The observed selectivity results from the slow rate of conversion of metal ions from the M(NTA)₂⁴⁻ form to M(PAR)₂.     

Ion chromatographic separation of alkali metal and ammonium cations on a C18 reversed-phase column

The separation of alkali metal (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺) and ammonium cations on a C₁₈ reversed-phase column using three anionic surfactants [sodium 1-eicosyl sulphate, sodium dodecyl benzenesulphonate and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)] is described. Two methods were examined: (a) “permanent” coating, with the use of a C₁₈ reversed-phase column previously coated with the surfactants; and (b) dynamic coating, with addition of the surfactants to the mobile phase. With method (a) the separation of the six cations was achieved with SDS. However, the retention times gradually decreased owing to dissolution of the SDS coating. Good separation was obtained with method (b), where 10 mM HNO₃ containing 0.1 mM SDS was used as the mobile phase with conductivity detection, and it was applied satisfactorily to real samples. The effect of system peaks on determination is also discussed.     

Simultaneous separation of common mono- and divalent cations on silica gel modified with aluminium by non-suppressed ion chromatography with conductimetric detection and nitric acid–15-crown-5 as eluent

The modification of silica gel with aluminium by a coating method was very effective for the preparation of silica-based stationary phases which acted as a cation exchanger under strongly acidic conditions. However, the separation of common mono- and divalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) on an aluminium-adsorbing silica (Al-Silica) column was moderate by a conductimetric detection ion chromatography (IC) with strongly acidic eluents. Then, the addition of various crown ethers (12-crown-4, 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6) in acidic eluent was carried out. As a result, it was found that 15-crown-5 was most effective for the improvement of peak resolution. Excellent separation of these cations was achieved in 20 min by elution with 2 mM nitric acid–2 mM 15-crown-5. The proposed IC was successfully applied to the determination of major cations in various natural waters.     

Simultaneous separation of common mono- and divalent cations on a zirconium-modified silica gel column by ion chromatography with non-suppressed conductimetric detection and tartaric acid–15-crown-5 as eluent

The application of laboratory-made zirconium-modified silica gels (Zr-silicas) as cation-exchange stationary phases to ion chromatography with conductimetric detection (IC–CD) for common mono- and divalent cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) was carried out. Zr-silicas were prepared by the reaction of the silanol group on the surface of silica gel with zirconium tetrabutoxide (Zr(OCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃)₄) in ethanol. Zr-silica adsorbed on 10 mg zirconium g⁻¹ silica gel was a suitable cation-exchange stationary phase in IC–CD for the separation of these mono- and divalent cations. Excellent simultaneous separation and highly sensitive detection for these cations were achieved in 10 min by IC–CD using a Zr-silica column (150×4.6 mm I.D.) and 10 mM tartaric acid containing 10 mM 15-crown-5 (1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane) as the eluent. The proposed IC–CD method was successfully applied to the determination of major mono- and divalent cations in natural water samples.     

Open tubular capillary electrochromatography of underivatized amino acids using Rh(III) tetrakis(phenoxyphenyl)porphyrinate as wall modifier

The separation of 17 “common” underivatized amino acids was attempted by open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OT-CEC) in fused-silica capillaries coated with Rh(III) tetrakis(phenoxyphenyl)porphyrinate (Rh(III)TPP(m-OPh)₄OAc) using sodium phosphate and Tris–phosphate buffers as background electrolytes (BGEs). The OT-CEC separation of amino acids was compared with that obtained by capillary zone electrophoresis in bare fused-silica capillaries using the same BGEs. The amino acids were not derivatized and the UV-absorption detection was set at 200 nm. Depending on the experimental conditions at least 15 amino acids were separated. The best separations were obtained in a Rh(III)TPP(m-OPh)₄OAc-coated capillary in 50 mM Tris–100 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.25. Separation of the critical triplet Val–Ile–Leu was always at least indicated being better at higher BGE concentrations. Regarding the sensitivity of the method, lower concentration limits of detection (LODs) in the coated capillary were obtained for Thr, Gly, Tyr, and Val; the other amino acids exhibited lower LODs in the uncoated capillary. The separation of acidic amino acids was not achieved.     

Retention behavior of arsenobetaine, arsenocholine, trimethylarsine oxide and tetramethylarsonium iodide on a styrene-divinylbenzene column with benzenesulfonates as ion-pairing reagents

The pH-dependent retention behavior of arsenobetaine, arsenocholine, trimethylarsine oxide, tetramethylarsonium iodide (cationic arsenic compounds), arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid (anionic arsenic compounds) was studied on a Hamilton PRP-1 reversed-phase column (250×4.1 mm I.D.) with 10 mM aqueous solutions of benzensulfonic acids (X-C₆H₄SO₃⁻; X=H, 4-HO, 3-CO₂H; 4-HO-3-HO₂C-C₆H₃SO₃⁻) as ion-pairing reagents in the pH range 2–5 using flame atomic absorption spectrometry as the arsenic-specific detector. The dependencies of the k′-values of the ‘cationic’ arsenic compounds was rationalized on the basis of the protonation/deprotonation behavior of the arsenic compounds and of the four benzenesulfonates. The results provided evidence for the formation of a cationic species from trimethylarsine oxide below pH 3. Benzenesulfonate is the most hydrophobic ion-pairing reagent causing strong retention of the cationic arsenic compounds and consequently impeding their rapid separation. With the less hydrophobic, substituted benzenesulfonates the cationic arsenic compounds had retention times not exceeding 6 min. At a flow-rate of 1.5 cm³ min⁻¹ 10 mM aqueous 3-carboxy-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate solution adjusted to pH 3.5 allowed the separation of arsenate, methylarsonic acid, arsenobetaine, trimethylarsine oxide, the tetramethylarsonium ion, and arsenocholine within 3 min. Dimethylarsinic acid coelutes with arsenobetaine at pH 3.5, but can be separated from arsenobetaine with the same mobile phase at pH 2.5. At pH 2.5 the signals for trimethylarsine oxide, the tetramethylarsonium ion, and arsenocholine are too broad to be useful for quantification. Arsenite and methylarsonic acid cannot be separated under these conditions.     

Separation of r-hirudin from similar substances by capillary electrophoresis

The thrombin inhibitor r-hirudin is a peptide of 65 amino acids and with a pI of 4.4. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was used to separate r-hirudin from seven closely related substances which may be found as by-products or from degradation. Possibly two of these substances differ only in an isoaspartyl instead of an aspartyl binding. A baseline separation was possible with an acetate buffer (pH 4.4, 60 mM) containing 0.3% (m/m) PEG 20 000 and 0.1 mM Zn²⁺. The possibilities to prevent wall adsorption are discussed.     

Capillary electrophoretic and thin-layer chromatographic characterization of rhenium complexation with 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid

1-Hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid (HEDP) labeled by short-lived radionuclides with the nuclear properties suitable for the therapeutical purposes (¹⁸⁶Re, ¹⁸⁸Re, ¹⁶⁶Ho) is similar to the other phosphonates widely applied in the radiopharmaceutical field for the treatment of palliative bone metastases. One of the important steps for the preparation of compounds of radiopharmaceutical interest is the quality control comprehending the radiochemical and chemical purity determination. Chromatographic methods as TLC and HPLC are mostly used for this purpose. Our experiments were focused on the application of capillary electrophoresis with UV detection to the study of rhenium complexation with HEDP. The influence of pH, concentration of the ligand and the reaction time were determined. Taking in account our previous results, the Re:SnCl₂ molar ratio 1:500 (for 0.1 mM Re) was applied to reduce perrhenate to lower oxidation states which enables the Re–HEDP complexation. Different background electrolytes were tested. The mixture of 40 mM Na₂HPO₄ with 15 mM HEDP adjusted to pH 8 was selected as the most suitable system because it enabled the separation of different forms of Re–HEDP complexes. The results obtained in this study were compared to those obtained by thin-layer chromatography with radiometric detection.     

Detection of traces of oxidized and reduced sulfur compounds in small samples by combination of different high-performance liquid chromatography methods

Depending on the sulfur species, picomoles of different inorganic sulfur compounds can be detected and separated by HPLC in one arrangement in a sample volume less than 50 μl. The combination of fluorescence labelling of reduced inorganic sulfur compounds such as sulfide (S²⁻), sulfite(SO₃²⁻ and thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻) with monobromobimane followed by an extraction of elemental sulfur (S°) by chloroform treatment enables the detection of all mentioned sulfur compounds as well as sulfate (remaining aqueous phase) in the same sample. While the derivatized sulfur compounds could be detected by their fluorescence emission at 480 nm, elemental sulfur is identified by its UV absorption at 263 nm. Sulfate in the remaining aqueous phase is detected by HPLC with indirect UV detection at 254 nm. Detection ranges for the different sulfur compounds examined are as follows: sulfide (5 μM to 1.5 mM), sulfite (5 μM to 1.0 mM), thiosulfate (1 μM to 1.5 mM), elemental sulfur (2 μM to 32 mM) and sulfate (5 μM to >1 mM).     

铋(Ⅲ)-8-羟基喹啉-5-磺酸的吸附伏安法研究

探讨了8-羟基喹啉-5-磺酸(HQSA)和络合物Bi(Ⅲ)-HQSA的电化学性质,特别是它们在汞电极上的吸附性。在pH=7.0的磷酸盐底液中,Bi(Ⅲ)-HQSA有一灵敏还原峰,为反应物弱吸附,E_pc=-0.44V(vs.饱和Ag/AgCl)。据此建立了吸附伏安法测定铋的新方法,检测限为2.0×10^-9mol/L,线性范围5.0×10^-9～1.0×10^-6mol/L。     

Separation and indirect detection by capillary zone electrophoresis of ppb (w/w) levels of aluminum ions in solutions of multiple cations

Solutions of multiple cations in aqueous solutions at concentrations as low as 200 ppb were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis. Aluminum ions were cleanly separated from Li⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cr³⁺, Zn²⁺, CU²⁺, and other ions less than 6 min after injection of the solution on a 50 cm × 50 μm I.D. uncoated fused-silica capillary column at 15 kV. Indirect detection at 204 nm was carried out using a pH 2.8 background electrolyte containing 5.2 mM ephedrine as a UV-absorbing co-ion and 4.7 mM -hydroxyisobutyric acid as a completing counter ion. Mobilities for Al³⁺ and 14 other complexed cations were determined for this electrolyte.