POTENTIOMETRIC DETECTION OF ORGANIC-ACIDS IN ION-EXCLUSION CHROMATOGRAPHY USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIQUID-MEMBRANE ELECTRODES

Four different liquid-membrane electrodes were tested in a potentiometric Bow-cell, in combination with an LC ion chromatography system (Aminex HPX-87H column). This setup was used for the determination of weak organic acids. The flow-through detector was of the wall-jet type. Conditions were established to achieve the best separation and detection characteristics. The sensitivity, selectivity and response time of the different electrodes were compared. Calibration curves and detection limits were measured for several organic acids, and compared with conductometric, and with low-wavelength UV detection. The detection limits were improved by inserting a post-column ion-suppressor system between the column and the detector. Several biological samples were analyzed to demonstrate the possibilities of the potentiometric detector.