Separation and Detection of Carboxylic Acids by Ion Chromatography

Abstract

Common carboxylic acids such as most Krebs cycle acids and other organic acids can be separated by either anion exchange or ion exclusion chromatography and detected by conductivity with chemical suppression. This is accomplished using a new generation of high dynamic capacity suppressors which allow separations on moderate and high capacity resins with concentrated eluants. For both anion exchange and ion exclusion chromatography, cation exchange membrane based suppressors are used to reduce the conductivity of the eluant while enhancing the conductivity of the organic acid analytes. The ability to choose between anion exchange and ion exclusion chromatography expands the versatility of ion chromatography by increasing the analyst's ability to solve co-elution problems.