Analysis of Inorganic Anions in Various Drinking Waters by Capillary Electrophoresis

The quantitation of inorganic anions in various drinking waters were investigated using capillary electrophoresis(CE) and the results were compared with ion chromatography(IC). With CE, in contrast to IC, was demonstrated rapid analysis, good efficiency, a low detection limit and the low comsumption of a solvent and samples. CE analysis was used 5 mM sodium chromate(pH 8.0) containing 20 mM tetraalkylammoniumbromide at -25kV applied voltage with indirect UV detection at 254 nm. This results in exceedingly short analysis time within 3 min. with efficiencies approaching 200,000 theoretical plates. The coefficients of variants of migration time are less than 0.8% and those of peak area are less than 2.3%. Detection limits for quantitative determination were 300 ppb-50 ppm level. These optimum conditions are applicable to various samples without pretreatment.