A New Method of Anion Chromatography Using a Novel Chromatographic Column and Detector

In Hamish Small’s seminal paper regarding the novel analytical technique of ion chromatography, he introduced three new things: 1) a new type of analytical column utilizing a stationary phase consisting of beads coated with resins that utilized charged species to separate ions based on electrostatic interactions, 2) a suppressor column, which utilized an ion exchange opposite to the analytical column and effectively reduced background ions from the mobile phase while enhancing analyte response, and 3) a new type of detector, namely a conductivity detector, which was uniquely capable of detecting the selectively enhanced ions in the suppressed mobile phase. The concepts and techniques that Small and his coworkers introduced were so well-designed that they remain the standard design for separation of ions today. However, with the invention of the vacuum ultraviolet detector, it is now possible to perform analysis of inorganic anions without the need for suppression technology or ion chromatography systems.

In this work, ten common inorganic ions have been separated using a novel analytical stationary phase, and a new detector, without the need for an ion chromatography system or suppressor columns or technology. Liquid chromatography (both high-performance and ultra-high performance systems) coupled with vacuum ultraviolet detection provides the ability to separate and detect anions at sub-part per million concentrations, comparable to ion chromatography systems. This includes anions poorly detected using ultraviolet detection, specifically chloride.

This talk will include an introduction and thorough discussion of the instrumental conditions utilized, the chromatographic columns and separation mechanisms, and calibration curves and limits of determination (LODs) of the anions studied.