FULLY AUTOMATED ONLINE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION SYSTEM FOR POLAR POLLUTANTS IN VARIOUS TYPES OF WATER

A fully automated column liquid chromatographic separation system using on-line trace enrichment, gradient elution and diode-array detection for the trace-level determination of polar pollutants is described. Automation of the system was achieved by means of an automated cartridge-exchange system (PROSPEKT). Relevant parameters such as pH, volume and ionic strength of the sample, flow-rate during the enrichment step and wavelengths and band widths during detection were optimized for eighteen pollutants in various types of water at concentration levels below 5 mu g l-1. The determination limit for all test compounds in liquid chromatographic grade water was 0.1 mu g l-1, and identification, via diode-array spectra, could be performed at the same level. The mean relative standard deviations of the peak areas and the retention times for all the test compounds were 10% and 0.3%, respectively, at the 5 mu g l-1 level for river Rhine water.