Ion chromatographic separation and determination of some sulphur anions

Abstract

An ion chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of sulphate, thiosulphate, trithionate, and tetrathionate using Separon HEMA ion exchangers based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate gels. Sulphate and thiosulphate were detected by indirect photometry at 254 nm, trithionate and tetrathionate, treated separately on another chromatograph, were detected by direct photometry at 205 nm. The method was applied with success to the study of the oxidation of thiosulphate in conditions of carbonate leaching.