This study shows a method for determining eight organic acids in wastewater using ion-exclusion chromatography and on-line carbonate removal. Normally, carbonate and inorganic anions are present in wastewater samples and interfere in organic acid analysis using ion exchange chromatography. In this study, the interferences are eliminated using ion-exclusion chromatography. Inorganic anions are eluted in the void volume and carbonate is removed by an on-line carbonate removal device.
The Thermo Scientific HPLC system is applied for the analysis of monocarboxylic acids. The separation is performed using a Thermo Scientific Acclaim Mixed-Mode WAX-1 column, with UV detection at 210nm.
