INTERFACING ION CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH PARTICLE BEAM MASS-SPECTROMETRY FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC ANIONIC COMPOUNDS

In this paper we demonstrate the successful interfacing of ion chromatography with particle beam mass spectrometry through the use of a membrane suppressor for continuous desalting. The microbore version of the membrane suppressor does not introduce significant peak broadening. The detection limit for six aromatic sulfonic acids in the full scan mode is better than 0.4-mu-g injected on-column. The utility of a mixed-phase column, having both reversed-phase and ion-exchange capabilities, is also demonstrated in the chromatography of a hazardous waste sample. For the determination of anionic compounds in particular, the particle beam mass spectrometer is found to exhibit an analyte carryover phenomenon, except under the cleanest conditions. The contamination problem is found to be independent of the choice of column or the use or absence of a membrane suppressor.