Utilization of anion-exchange guard column as an ion chromatographic column of anions including application to simultaneous separation of anions and cations

Abstract

This study demonstrated that a guard column containing anion-exchange resin has the potential for use as a separation column for acid eluent. Specifically, a 1-cm long anion-exchange guard column with a 4.6-mm internal diameter provided good separation of monovalent inorganic anions, by elution of 8 mM tartaric acid or 4 mM malic acid. Using the guard column with acid eluent could be applied to evaluation of nitrite and nitrate ions in mountain and urban river water samples. When the guard column was connected in front of a cation-exchange separation column (15 cm long × 4.6 mm internal diameter) in a series, the system provided simultaneous separation of anions and cations in eluent of 8 mM tartaric acid and 0.5 mM 18-crown-6 ether by a single injection.