Improved method for determination of anions present in aqueous samples by ion-chromatography

Abstract

In order to protect the environment there have been developed various methods allowing determination of different pollutants in several environmental matrices (wastewater, surface water, drinking water). Many of the methods used so far have proved to be insufficiently sensitive, selective and accurate or time consuming. Recently much attention has been paid to ion chromatography, which seems to be one of the most promising method. A direct ion chromatographic method of measuring common inorganic anions, such as fluoride, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, phosphate and sulphate was modified and expanded to include measurement of three new components, listed by eluting order: acetate, formate and chromate. In this method, samples were injected using a large-volume direct injection technique, the analyte anions were separated on a carbonate based anion-exchange column using isocratic carbonate/bicarbonate eluents and suppressed conductivity detection method.