Chloride analysis in magnesium metal using ion chromatography with conductometric detection

A simple, rapid and accurate method for the determination of chloride in magnesium metal has been developed. The quantitative determination of chloride was accomplished by anion exchange chromatography with conductometric determination. A Metrosep Anion Dual 2 analytical column connected in series with a Metrosep RP guard column was used for chloride separation. A solution containing a mixture of 1.3 mM Na2CO3 and 2 mM NaHCO3 was used as eluent. The method requires a sample dissolution using nitric acid. The limit of detection for the determination of chloride is 50 mg kg−1 and the relative standard deviation was 5% for the overall method. The recovery of chloride added was 99–102%. No interference was observed from either the closely eluting “system peak” or the nitrate peak in the determination of chloride.