Ion Chromatography Analysis of Bromate in Natural Water Samples Using Ammonia as a Preservative

Ethylenediamine, the preservative specified in EPA Method 300.1, can introduce a chromatographic artifact when analyzing samples containing elevated carbonate concentrations as a result of the formation of ethylenediamine carbamate. This artifact can compromise the ability to measure low levels of bromate in drinking water. The use of ammonia as an alternative preservative was investigated and found to produce improved bromate chromatography under challenging conditions. The improvement was seen on two different stationary phases, demonstrating that the benefit of this alternative preservative is independent of the column chemistry.

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