Determination of short-chain aliphatic, oxo- and hydroxy-acids in drinking water at low microgram per liter concentrations
Peldszus, S.; Huck, P.M.; Andrews, S.A.
Journal of Chromatography A 723(1): 27-34
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9673 PMID: 8819819 Document Number: 463319
A fast and reliable ion chromatography method has been developed and applied to study the formation and consumption of organic acid ozonation by-products in a drinking water treatment plant. Water samples are injected directly into the ion chromatograph using a large sample loop (740 mu-l) without any sample preparation step other than possibly filtration. Organic and inorganic anions are determined by separation on a high-capacity anion-exchange column followed by conductivity detection. The average recovery for the organic acids investigated (beta-hydroxybutyric, acetic, glycolic, butyric, formic, alpha-ketobutyric and pyruvic acid) ranged from 96 to 105%, and their method detection limits ranged from 1 to 5 mu-g/l. When applied to samples taken from a drinking water treatment plant, the method proved to be reliable.