Microcolumn ion chromatography of inorganic anions using bovine serum albumin stationary phase with indirect photometric detection

Microcolumn ion chromatography of inorganic anions has been studied using bovine serum albumin immobilized on silica gel as a stationary phase. Several mobile phase solutions were examined, involving sodium iodide, potassium hydrogen phthalate, 2,6-anthraquinone disulfonate (2,6-AQDS) and sodium salicylate. 2,6-AQDS achieved better separation of the analytes tested. Chloride, nitrate, iodide, thiocyanate and sulphate could be separated within 8 min. Detection limits were in the range of 0.9-2.9 mu M, corresponding to mass detection limits of 0.18-0.59 pmol. The system was applied to the determination of inorganic anions in environmental water and biological samples.