Determination of iodate and sulphate in iodized common salt by ion chromatography with conductivity detection

A simple, rapid and accurate method for the determination of iodate in iodized common salts has been developed. The quantitative determination of iodate was accomplished by anion exchange chromatography with conductimetric detection. The method requires a sample pretreatment for the removal of large excess of chloride from the sample matrix. Onguard silver cartridges were found most suitable for this purpose. The sulphate content in the salt was simultaneously determined. The lower limits for the determination of iodate and sulphate in solution are 0.5 and 0.05 μg ml−1, respectively. Quantitative recovery of the anions in synthetic samples has been obtained and the interferences from different cations and anions have been studied. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of iodate and sulphate in the commercially available salts. The concentrations of iodate measured by this method are in good agreement with those claimed by the manufacturer.