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Ion chromatography is used for water chemistry analysis. Ion chromatographs are able to measure concentrations of major anions, such as fluoride, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate, as well as major cations such as lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range. Concentrations of organic acids can also be measured through ion chromatography.
Ion chromatography, a form of liquid chromatography, measures concentrations of ionic species by separating them based on their interaction with a resin. Ionic species separate differently depending on species type and size. Sample solutions pass through a pressurized chromatographic column where ions are absorbed by column constituents. As an ion extraction liquid, known as eluent, runs through the column, the absorbed ions begin separating from the column. The retention time of different species determines the ionic concentrations in the sample.
Some typical applications of ion chromatography include:
Liquid Samples:
Liquid samples should be filtered prior to evaluation with an ion chromatograph to remove sediment and other particulate matter as well as to limit the potential for microbial alteration before the sample is run. Aqueous samples should be collected using a sterile syringe or bottle rinsed three times with sample water and then filtered through 0.45um (or smaller) filters. The collection vial should likewise be rinsed three times with filtrate before being filled brim-full of sample filtrate. Samples should be stored cold until they can be processed. The minimum sample required for analysis is approximately 5mL, with no maximum limits.
Solid samples and Organic Liquids
Solid samples can be extracted with water or acid (cations) to remove ions from the sample surface. Liquid samples must also be filtered and stored cold until analysis can be performed. The minimum sample required for a solid sample is approximately 2-3 cm2 for solids, with no maximum limits.
The diagram on the upper left shows how an ion chromatograph works to output data. Each peak represents a separate ion from the sample solution. The elution time, or time it takes for the ion to move through the column, varies for each ion species as they elute from the column separately as the pH and/or ionic strength of the eluent is increased. The concentration of ions moving through the column at a particular time is represented by the height and the breadth of the peaks and can be correlated to the concentration of a particular species in the sample solution.
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The graphs on the upper right display typical data output from an ion chromatography run. The upper graph shows cation concentrations and the lower graph depicts anion concentrations from dilute glacial waters. Ion concentrations can be calculated using the area under each peak, where a larger area correlates with a higher concentration of a particular ion species. Most ion chromatography machines provide software that calculates this area, which users can convert to ppm or other quantity using calibration standard solutions.
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Find out some of the most exciting ion chromatography applications, as reported by users, and more
Ion chromatography (IC), a form of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is a process by which the anions and cation in an ionic solution can be separated and analyzed. Almost any charged molecules, including proteins and nucleotides, can be analyzed using IC. It is a broadly applied technique that is especially useful for clinical, industrial, food, and environmental samples.
Water Testing
Environmental analysis is one of the most important applications for IC. The technique can be used in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of anions and cations in drinking, surface, and saline waters, domestic and industrial waste, and leachates. Cyanide, hexavalent chromium, and bromate are examples of chemicals of interest in water testing with IC.
Carbohydrate Determination
Ion chromatography is increasingly being applied to carbohydrate determination in food science. Though they are not usually considered ionic, carbohydrates are acidic enough to be ionized in strongly basic solution, and are thus amenable to analysis by IC.
Pharmaceutical Analysis
Ion chromatography is a versatile tool for pharmaceutical analysis. The technique can be used to determine active ingredients, excipients, and traces of impurities, as well as metabolites in the form of organic and inorganic ions or polar substances, in certain drugs, drug solutions, and body fluids.
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