On-line extraction of metal ions using liquid-liquid segmentation and a membrane type phase separator for fluorescence detection

Summary A liquid segmented post-column reaction system has been used to extract metal ions from an aqueous eluent into an organic solvent for fluorescence detection. The metals Zr(IV), Ga(III), Sc(III), Y(III), In(III), Al(III), La(III), Zn(II), Cd(II), Ca(II) and Mg(II) have been isocratically separated on a C₁₈ column by virtue of the secondary chemical equilibrium established by an eluent containing n-octanesulfonate, tartaric acid, and hydroxyisobutyric acid. The chelating reagent 8-hydroxyquinoline dissolved in methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK) was used to extract the metals and a membrane type phase separator was effective at separating the phases and directing the organic stream to the detector. The response for this detection approach was linear for metal ion concentrations spanning the range of the detector, and detection limits for most metals were low parts-per-billion (ppb). Band broadening for the extraction system was examined and compared to a direct post-column reaction using oxine dissolved in acetone.