PRECONCENTRATION TECHNIQUES FOR BROMATE ANALYSIS IN OZONATED WATERS

Ozonation of surface waters that contain bromide result in the formation of bromate which has been identified as potential carcinogen. Regulation of bromate at the preferred concentration of less than 5 mu g/l is being delayed due to lack of a validated analytical method for quantification at this level. This paper describes the integrated use of a silver cation resin to reduce closely eluting chloride from aqueous samples followed by a chelation column to remove leached silver prior to pre-concentration of 4-ml samples on an anion-exchange column. A berate eluent used under gradient conditions allows for bromate determination at 0.5 mu g/l in treatment plant waters that, hitherto, were reported to be devoid of bromate.