Applications inorganic anions

Examples of the application of ion-exchange chromatography to the analysis of (a) inorganic anions, (b) inorganic cations, (c) antifreeze, and (d) vitamins. (Chromatograms courtesy of Alltech Associates, Inc. Deerfield, IL). 

The polarographic method is applicable to the determination of inorganic anions such as bromate, iodate, dichromate, vanadate, etc. Hydrogen ions are involved in many of these reduction processes, and the supporting electrolyte must therefore be adequately buffered. 

The anion in an ionic liquid can be varied, too. Many ionic liquids contain relatively simple inorganic anions, such as nitrate (NO3 ), tetrafluoroborate (BF4 ), or hexafluorophosphate (PFg ). Anions that are more exotic also are possible, such as the two shown below. Varying the anion provides another way of tuning the properties of an ionic liquid to match a desired application. 

Since the early 1990s an increasing number of papers has been devoted to the application of CE for the analysis of both inorganic cations [906-915] and low-molecular-mass anions [915-922]. Standard CE methods have been developed and validated for determining inorganic anions (e.g. chloride, sulfate and nitrate), small carboxylic acids and metal ions that all have limited or no UV absorbance. In those situations, short UV wavelengths (190 nm) or indirect UV detection should be used. Such methods might be extended to metallic... 

The ion-exchange process is applicable for removing a broad range of ionic species from water containing all metallic elements, inorganic anion such as halides, sulfates, nitrates, cyanides, organic acids such as carboxylics, sulfonics, some phenols at sufficiently alkaline pH conditions, and organic amines at sufficiently acidic conditions. 

One of the most important fields of application of photocatalysis is the photodegeneration of organic compounds. These processes are used in particular for environmental decontamination, especially for wastewater treatment and air purification, because of the ability of semiconductors to totally degrade organics to C02, H 20, and inorganic anions under U V or visible light. This behavior is attributed to the photoinduced formation of radicals, such as OH, or to the adsorption and direct degradation of the pollutants. 

The applications of hydrophobic amine salts (see Table 5) as anion exchange extractants to recover a diverse range of metals in the form of anionic, usually chloro, complexes was reviewed4 in CCC (1987). The order of preference shown by this class of extractants for simple inorganic anions... 

For those applications involving the activation of an inorganic anion (that is, generation of a naked anion), the cryptands, rather than the crowns, tend to be the reagents of choice. Such reagents are thus also ideal for applications involving phase-transfer catalysis of the type discussed previously. 

Sowinski and Suffet 297) have used GC/MS to detect boron hydrides at trace levels, whereas Blum and Richter (298) have used capillary columns in the combined GC/MS of a series of phenylboronate derivatives. There have also been recent applications of GC/MS to the TMS derivatives of inorganic anions (299). The TMS derivatives of ammonium arsenates. 

Determination of inorganic anions by capillary electrophoresis is critically compared with ion chromatographic determinations on the basis of recent literature in the field. After a very brief summary of the theoretical background, the selection and optimization of the running electrolyte system are discussed, especially in connection with modification of the electroosmotic flow. Preconcentration techniques are surveyed, as are the approaches to the sample introduction and analyte detection. The principal analytical parameters of the determinations are evaluated and illustrated on selected applications described in the literature. 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. 

As pointed out above, IC is a well-established method for the analysis of inorganic anions and has become the method of choice in many application areas. Many techniques are available using singlecolumn [46] or dual-column systems with various detection modes. IC can be used both for analytical and preparative purposes. Large sample volumes, up to 1300 pul, can be injected to determine trace anions and cations and to attain detection limits of 10-400 ng/1. For determinations at a pig/1 to mg/1 level, a sample size of 10-50 xl is sufficient. Preconcentration is necessary for lower concentrations (an additional column, a sample pump, an extra valve and an extra time are the disadvantages of this approach [47]). With an IEC column and isocratic... 

The applications of CE analysis to inorganic anions are already numerous and are rapidly growing. The application ranges include, e.g. clinical chemistry [53], the pulp and paper industry [55], environmental samples [49], waste waters from processing plants [56], process control, industrial applications [43,57-59], explosive residue analysis [48], biological samples [60], or drugs and intermediates [61,62]. 

An overview and discussion is given of literature methods published after 1989 devoted to the ion-interaction chromatographic determination of inorganic anions. Seventy references are quoted. Ion-interaction chromatography makes use of commercial reversed-phase stationary phase and conventional high-performance liquid chromatography instrumentation. The basis of the technique, the modification of the stationary phase surface, the choice of the ion-interaction reagent as well as the dependence of retention on the different variables involved are discussed. Examples of application in the fields of environmental, clinical and food chemistry are presented. The experimental conditions of stationary phase, of mobile phase composition as well as detection mode, detection limit and application are also summarized in tables. 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. 

Alkaline earth and transition metal ions can be converted to negatively charged complexes by reaction with different ligands and can be separated in the same mixture with inorganic anions using anion exchange methods. This makes possible the use of standard IC equipment for their quantitative determination and this approach has proved popular (see recent applications in Table 2). 

Anon (n.d.e) Dionex application note number 123 The determination of inorganic anions and organic acids in fermentation broths. Available as a downloadable file from the Dionex website (http //www.Dionex.com). 

In addition to the common inorganic anions analysed by IC, a number of other species can also be determined by using appropriate accessories. Some of these applications include ... 

Results of the EDAR index application to these types of matrices are provided in Table 5. Samples were selected for toxicity screening to ensure the presence of different types of contaminants commonly present in complex wastes (e.g., hydrocarbons, DOC, nutrients, ammonia, inorganic anions and cations, pesticides) and other matrices (e.g., sediments and sludges, solid materials, liquid... 

Electrochemical detectors measure the current resulting from the application of a potential (voltage) across electrodes in a flow cell. They respond to substances that are either oxidizable or reducible and may be used for the detection of compounds such as catecholamines, carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, phosphonic acids, alcohols, glycols, aldehydes, carbohydrates, amines, and many other sulfur-containing species and inorganic anions and cations. Potentiometric, amperometric, and conductivity detectors are all classified as electrochemical detectors. 

This technique developed by Small et al. in 1975 [1] is usually employed for the separation and determination of mixtures of inorganic anions in water. However, applications have also been found for the determination of many organic anions in water. 

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