Simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) with prechelation of Cr(III) using phthalate by ion interaction chromatography with a C-18 column

Ion interaction chromatography has been successfully used for the simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in waste water. A C-18 column which had been dynamically coated with octylamine was used for the separation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) based on anionic interaction. Cr(III) was chelated with potassium hydrogen phthalate (KHP) before injecting into the column since the Cr(III) did not exist in an anionic form like the Cr(VI) (Cr2O72−) presented at the optimum condition. The analytes were detected at 200 nm and linear relationship between absorption with the concentration of Cr(III) or Cr(VI) was 0.1–50 mg/L. Most of the interested interferences including alkali metals, heavy metals and organic materials have no significant effect on Cr(III)–KHP complexation and Cr(VI) stability, only NH4+ and ascorbic acid yielded the serious effect on the Cr(VI) stability. The relative standard deviations calculated from both of peak area and retention time were 0.75–2.20%. The sensitivity of the method at the level concentration of sub mg/L enabled the simultaneous determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) contents in waste water samples without any special sample preparation step.