Determination of Trace Bromate in Drinking Water with Ion Chromatography

Environmental Protection Agency and the World Health Organization determined that bromate is a potential human carcinogen, even at low μg/l levels in drinking water. In order to decrease the chemical risk of bromate, the monitor parameters have increased and maximum contaminant levels of the parameters have been controlled strictly. A simple technique for the determination of trace level of bromate in drinking water with ion chromatography is presented. In the selected concentration and velocity of the sodium hydroxide eluent, bromate and other anions can be separated with the Dionex DX-120 IC machine and the IonPac As16 anion-exchange column in linear gradient. Bromate can be certified by retention time and fixed the quantity by peak area. Prior to ion chromatography, the drinking water sample was treated with electrolyzing argentine electrode to minimize the disturbance of superfluous chloride and then concentrated in a microwave oven in 10 minutes. The detection limit of bromate was decreased to 0.5μg/l. The method was applicable for the detection of bromate in real drinking water.