Computer-assisted Development of ad hoc Methodology for Monitoring of Inorganic Cations in Surface Water Using Gradient Elution Ion Chromatography

摘要

This work focuses on development of ad hoc methodology for monitoring of sodium, ammonium,potassium, magnesium and calcium ions in rivers Ilova and Kutinica (southeastern part of Croatia)since often their composition significantly differs from the average (concentration of components and/ormatrix). Therefore fast and reliable method development has to be performed in order to meet criteria ofthe monitoring methodology performance characteristic. Computer assisted routine for prediction ofchromatographic signal, based on a transfer of isocratic elution information into a gradient elution environment,was used in combination with several in-house developed optimization criteria. It is shownthat algorithm used for prediction of ion-chromatographic signal offers sufficient information (in comparisonto actual measured chromatographic signal) to be applied in global optimization process. Calculatedoptimal gradient incorporates linearly decreasing, increasing and isocratic part of the eluent concentrationtime-profile, utilizing full potential of the gradient separation. Developed method was validated provingthat it meets criteria for river Ilova and Kutinica monitoring purposes. Moreover, this results show thatused computer assisted optimization routine can be successfully applied for fast and reliable ad hocmethod development in ion chromatography. (doi: 10.5562/cca1736)