Chromatographic separation of certain metal ions using a bifunctional quaternary ammonium-sulfonate mixed bed ion-exchanger

The separation behaviour of Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ on bifunctional quaternary ammonium-sulfonate mixed ion-exchangers (Dionex, IonPac CS5 and CG5) was studied using different eluents including solutions of oxalic acid, potassium oxalate, sodium oxalate and ammonium oxalate. Separated metal ions were followed by using 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol (PAR) as post-colouring complex. The retention factors of different ions proved to be dependent on the pH, concentration, nature of each complexing agent, and to less extent on eluent flow rate. The retention behaviour and separation mechanism of complexed metal analytes are discussed in the light of the stability of metal complexes and the ligand complexing ability of used eluent. Comparison between various mobile phases is evaluated, and both sodium and potassium oxalate can be used successfully for simultaneous separation of studied metals with good resolution within short elution periods. The method can be used in different applications including analysis of bottled water from different resources.