Speciation of chromium in aquatic samples by coupled column ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

A method is described that utilizes inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an element-selective detector for coupled column ion chromatographic determination of chromium species in aquatic samples. The coupled column system consists of a cation guard column and an anion column. Species conversion is eliminated by minimizing the sample pretreatment and by using dilute nitric acid eluents. The smallest concentration for quantitation is 0.3 μg/l for Cr(III) and 0.5 μg/l for Cr(VI).