Ion Chromatography as a Reference Method for Determination of Inorganic Ions in Water and Wastewater

Abstract

Water analysis is an important part of the chemical analysis of environmental samples. The development of new methods of water analysis and improvement of existing ones is a major task for analytical chemists. Analysis of common inorganic anions and cations in water is mandatory. Ion chromatography has almost replaced most of the wet chemical methods used in water analysis. The demands from regulators for justifiable analytical results and from laboratories for validated methods have led to necessity to standardize ion chromatography methods. The paper is a review of application of ion chromatography for the determination of inorganic anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₂ ⁻, NO₃ ⁻, BrO₃ ⁻, ClO₂ ⁻, ClO₃ ⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, SO₃ ²⁻, SO₄ ²⁻, CrO₄ ²⁻, I⁻, SCN⁻, and S₂O₃ ²⁻) and cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, K⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺) in water and wastewater.