Determination of chloride ion in aqueous samples by isotope-dilution Fourier-transform flame infrared emission (ID-FIRE) spectrometry

An isotope dilution method for the determination of chloride ion in aqueous samples is described. The method makes use of the isotopic shift in the rotational lines of the 1–0 band of HCl emitted in the near infrared region of the spectrum by vibrationally excited HCl molecules present in a hydrogen/entrained air flame. Chloride ion in the sample is converted to chlorine gas by electrolysis and swept into a hydrogen/entrained air flame where it is converted into HCl. Because isotope dilution is an absolute method of analysis, matrix effects are minimized, and the chlorine generation step need not be quantitative. With the system described in this paper, samples must contain at least 9 mg of chloride ion per ml, and a 2-ml sample is required. Over the range from 10 to 30 mg Cl^? ml^?1, the average error was ?0.96%, and the average relative standard deviation was 3.3% for seven samples using seven of the more intense lines in the P branch. Compared with standard silver nitrate titrations, the isotope dilution procedure was not affected by such common interferences as bromide ion and iodide ion. The technique was applied to several seawater samples from different regions.