Determination of iodide in seawater by capillary ion chromatography using hexadimethrine bromide modified C30 stationary phases.

A novel and simple capillary ion chromatographic method for the determination of iodide is reported. Separation was achieved on a laboratory-made packed capillary column (100 mm × 0.32 mm i.d.) packed with triacontyl-functionalized silica, followed by a modification with hexadimethrine bromide, where 1 mM sodium chloride-acetonitrile (95:5, v/v) was used as the eluent and UV-absorbing analyte anions were detected at 225 nm. The effects of the eluent composition on the retention behavior of inorganic anions were investigated. The addition of a small amount of an organic substance in an eluent such as acetonitrile increased the retention of iodide, while the addition of methanol decreased its retention. The present analytical method was successfully applied to the rapid and direct determination of iodide in seawater without any preconcentration. Also, this modified column could be used for about two months (6 h operation per day) without hexadimethrine bromide being contained in the eluent.