Abstract

Method and apparatus for chromatographic separation and quantitative analysis of ions of like charges in a sample, e.g., cations or anions. For the analysis of inorganic anions, the sample and an eluent are directed to a hydrophobic chromatographic separation bed without permanently attached ion exchange sites. The eluent (a polar mobile liquid) includes an organic cation which reversibly adsorbs to the bed to create ion exchange sites which differentially retard the anions for chromatographic resolution. The eluent also includes a developing reagent of the same charge as the ion to be analyzed. The eluent including the resolved anions is then passed through an ion exchange resin which precludes passage of the counter ion and its co-ion in ionized form and then through a conductivity cell for quantitative detection. Inorganic cations may be detected in an analogous manner. The system may also be employed to analyze highly organic cations or anions (e.g., surfactants). In this instance, the organic ion of interest is already strongly attracted to the hydrophobic separation bed, and so the counter ion may be inorganic.

Other References

• Chemical Abstracts, 91: 101564w (1979)
• B. A. Allen et al., J. Chromatogr., 190, 241-245 (1980)