Umweltanalytik mit Ionenchromatografie: Status quo und Zukunftsperspektiven Teil III: Organische Xenobiotica

Abstract

Goal and scope Ion Chromatography (IC) is one of the most versatile and efficient techniques for the determination of ionic and highly polar substances in aqueous environmental media. The article pursues the aim to provide an overview over the ion chromatographic environmental analysis of organic xenobiotics. Main features A short historical description of the ion chromatographic environmental analysis of organic xenobiotics is followed by a survey of related analytical method developments and applications since the year 2000, structured along relevant classes of compounds. Aminopolycarboxylic acids, halogenated acetic acids, phosphonic acids and organophosphates, organic sulphur compounds and organic nitrogen compounds are considered especially. Results and conclusion IC has highest importance for the environmental analysis of aminopolycarboxylic acids and halogenated acetic acids, i. e. strong acidic, singly or multiply charged, low to moderate lipophilic compounds, which are sensitively detected by MS techniques. More lipophilic ionic compounds such as sulfonated tensides and azo dyes, are frequently separated on RP columns making use of an ion pairing reagent, usually achieving a higher chromatographic efficiency for these analytes as with ion exchange columns. Recommendations and perspectives To increase chromatographic efficiency, selectivity, and detection sensitivity are continuous demands of (environmental) analysis which have to be met by IC, too. RP-HPLC seems to proceed faster than IC in several areas, i. e. reduction of column particle sizes and introduction of monolithic columns, but IC is making considerable progresses at these tasks as well. Some new techniques, e. g. capillary ion chromatography, are just emerging. © Springer-Verlag 2010.