Abstract

A novel method using low pressure ion chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (LPLC-ICP-MS) has been developed for the determination of water-soluble chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in waste water. The low pressure anion exchange column used in this system contained quaternary ammonium groups, which could separate the Cr(III) from Cr(VI). The ICP-MS was used as the detector in this coupled system to detect the concentration of chromium. The linear range of this method was 10.0ng•L-1~1.0mg•L-1; the detection limit of Cr(III) was 3.5ng•L-1, Cr(VI) was 9.8ng•L-1(pH=7); the precision of Cr(III) was 2.1%, Cr(VI) was 4.6% (n=6). Compared with National Standard Method of China result the error was ±6%.