Invetigations into the use of an auxiliary metal ion for indirect amperometri detection

Summary A method for determination of metal ions subsequent to separation by ion chromatography has previously been developed. The method is based on Indirect Amperometric Detection whereby the decrease in the oxidation current, due to a dithiocarbamate ligand added post column, is monitored. Upon elution from the chromatographic column the metal ions are complexed by the ligand. As the complexes formed are electroinactive at the applied potential, the background current decreases according to the metal ion concentration. The method developed in this work involves addition to the reagent of Zn(II) as a auxiliary metal ion to displace the analyte metals from the chromatographic eluent ligand complexes after separation. Sodium bis(2-hydroxy-ethyl) dithiocarbamate was used as the postcolumn derivatising reagent. The addition of Zn(II) to the reagent causes some unforeseen behaviour in the chromatographic system.