Inorganic cations were determined in municipal wastewater samples using a high pressure capillary IC system. All six cations were separated on IonPac CS16 capillary column at 30 mM MSA and 40 C. The high pressure capabilities of the ICS-5000+ capillary IC system were demonstrated by using flow rates at 3x of the typical capillary flow rate, 30 uL/min. The separation at the standard flow rate of 10 uL/min is also shown. An ICS-6000 can be used for this application.

Morpholine and ammonium are used as additives in power plant waters. Morpholine acts as a corrosion inhibitor, whereas ammonium is used to control pH. In this matrix, it is critical to determine the presence of inorganic cation contaminants. This method uses the IonPac CS14 column to quantify trace concentrations of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the presence of high levels of ammonium and morpholine. Acetonitrile can be added to the eluent to improve peak shape and optimize resolution for some of the cations of interest.

Morpholine and ammonium are used as additives in power plant waters. Morpholine acts as a corrosion inhibitor, whereas ammonium is used to control pH. In this matrix, it is critical to determine the presence of inorganic cation contaminants. This method uses the IonPac CS14 column to quantify trace concentrations of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the presence of high levels of ammonium and morpholine. Acetonitrile can be added to the eluent to improve peak shape and optimize resolution for some of the cations of interest.

Hydrogen peroxide is an essential chemical in the fabrication of integrated circuit and microcircuit devices. Maximum allowable contaminate levels for semiconductor grade hydrogen peroxide can be as low as <100 ppt (ng/L) per individual inorganic cation. This application uses an IonPac CS17 column to determine trace cations and amines in hydrogen peroxide with a large-loop injection. The CS17 column separates amines without the organic solvent eluent modifier needed for separating amines when using older cation-exchange ion-chromatography (IC) columns.

This Application Note describes the determination of μg/L concentrations of hydrazine, morpholine, and ethanolamine (ETA) in a simulated NPP wastewater sample containing mg/L concentrations of common cations. ETA is separated using an IonPac CS15 column with electrolytically generated methanesulfonic acid eluent. See AN 247 (a) for separation of morpholine and hydrazine on an IonPac CS16 column.