Ion-exclusion/cation-exchange chromatography with dual detection of the conductivity and spectrophotometry for the simultaneous determination of common inorganic anionic species and cations in river and wastewater

Anal Sci. 2011;27(5):499. doi: 10.2116/analsci.27.499.

Abstract

Simultaneous determinations of common inorganic anionic species (SO(4)(2-), Cl(-), NO(3)(-), phosphate and silicate) and cations (Na(+), NH(4)(+), K(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+)) were conducted using an ion-chromatography system with dual detection of conductivity and spectrophotometry in tandem. The separation of ionic species on a weakly acidic cation-exchange resin was accomplished using a mixture of 100 mM ascorbic acid and 4 mM 18-crown-6 as an acidic eluent (pH 2.6), after which the ions were detected using a conductivity detector. Subsequently, phosphate and silicate were analyzed based on derivatization with molybdate and spectrophotometry at 700 nm. The detection limits at S/N = 3 ranged from 0.11 to 2.9 µM for analyte ionic species. This method was applied to practical river water and wastewater with acceptable criteria for the anion-cation balance and comparisons of the measured and calculated electrical conductivity, demonstrating the usefulness of the present method for water quality monitoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anions / analysis
  • Ascorbic Acid / chemistry
  • Cations / analysis
  • Chlorides / analysis
  • Chromatography, Ion Exchange
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Metals, Alkali / analysis
  • Metals, Alkaline Earth / analysis
  • Nitrates / analysis
  • Phosphates / analysis
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / analysis
  • Rivers / chemistry*
  • Silicates / analysis
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Sulfates / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anions
  • Cations
  • Chlorides
  • Metals, Alkali
  • Metals, Alkaline Earth
  • Nitrates
  • Phosphates
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Silicates
  • Sulfates
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Ascorbic Acid