EVALUATION OF 1,2-DIAMINOCYCLOHEXANETETRAACETIC ACID AS ELUENT IN THE DETERMINATION OF INORGANIC ANIONS AND CATIONS BY ION CHROMATOGRAPHY

The chelating agent 1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid (DCTA) was tested as an eluent for the separation and determination of inorganic anions (Cl-, NO3-, SO42-) and some selected metals using single-column ion chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The effects of pH and eluent concentration on retention times for the system were studied to overview the possibilities of attaining optimum separations. The metals studied included Fe(III), Cr(III), Y(III), La(III), Nd(III), Gd(III), Ba(II), Ca(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Mg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Sr(II), Zn(II) and Mo(VI). The detection limits were generally below 0.5 mu g ml(-1). Results for the analysis of synthetic samples and drinking water are presented.