ION-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF TRANSITION-METALS ON A POLYBUTADIENE MALEIC ACID-COATED STATIONARY-PHASE

Transition metals are traditionally analyzed by cation-exchange or ion-pair chromatography. Divalent metal ions are separated on sulfonic acid cation stationary phase using various eluents along with conductivity detection. An alternative method is reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography coupled with conductivity detection. This method of detection is not very sensitive for transition metals. For better separation and sensitivity, UV-Vis detection along with pre- or post-column derivatization with an absorbing ligand is the most common method applied. This method is messy and complicated. This paper describes the separation of transition metals on a polybutadiene maleic acid stationary phase. This cation-exchange stationary phase has been successfully applied for the simultaneous separation of mono- and divalent cations. Several cations including group I and group II cations along with transition metals can be analyzed using complexing acid eluents. Detection limits and the effect of different eluent concentrations are discussed.