A single pump column-switching technique coupled with polystyrene-divinylbenzene–carbon nanotubes column for the determination of trace anions in different concentrated organic matrices by ion chromatography

An ion chromatographic method with on-line sample pretreatment was developed for the trace analysis of seven common anions in concentrated matrices. The pretreatment column used in this study consisted of polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS-DVB) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). It was too hydrophobic to retain different inorganic anions, but it showed a strong affinity for organic compounds. Thus, this chromatographic system could be used to detect trace anions in organic solvents, organic acids and relevant salts. The addition of MWCNTs decreased the surface areas of stationary phases and the retention times of organic matrices were shortened. Compared with conventional column-switching technique, only a single instrument (ICS2100) was needed in this system, including a pump, a conductivity detector, an eluent generator, a six-port valve and a ten-port valve. An electrochemical self-generating suppressor (ESGS) was adopted to convert the eluent of KOH into water for the matrix elimination. Two different eluent were employed in the chromatographic system, one for separation and the other for matrix elimination. The sample pretreatment and analysis were realized simultaneously. After optimization of this system, a calibration study was conducted by preparing and analyzing eight concentrations (between 5 and 5000 μg L −1) of mixture standards of seven anions in deionized water. The linearity was between 0.9990 and 0.9998, and the detection limits ranged from 0.41 to 3.17 μg L −1. A spiking study was performed on three representative organic chemicals with satisfactory recoveries between 88.1% and 118.5% when the concentrations of the matrices did not exceed 10 g L −1.