Metal Ion Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

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Abstract
Nonpolar, agglomerated anion exchanger, and surface-sulfonated cation exchanger stationary phases have been used in conjunction with 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid (HQS) in the eluent or as a postcolumn reagent for the separation and detection of a number of metals that form fluorescent HQS complexes. Several metals, notably those classified as transition metals, form nonfluorescent HQS chelates and quenches the fluorescence of other metal-HQS metal chelates. Such transition metals have been detected by introducing the fluorescent Al-HQS chelate postcolumn. Cation exchange stationary phases are the most useful for chromatographic applications involving HQS and are able to provide a variety of useful separations by tailoring elution conditions. Although not sensitive to Ba, the approach may be particularly good for the determination of the other alkaline earth metals. Fluorescence quenching resulting from Fe and Ni leaching from stainless steel chromatographic systems present a problem for trace analysis and accentuate the need for nonmetallic hardware. Subpicomole detection limits are attainable for Cd, Mg and Zn.