INVESTIGATION OF INORGANIC-IONS AND ORGANIC-ACIDS IN ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL BY CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS

In this paper capillary electrophoresis was applied for the analysis o f inorganic cations and simultaneous investigation of inorganic anions and organic acids in atmospheric aerosol samples. Each method was dev eloped for the characteristic matrix composition of atmospheric aeroso l. Optimization of the composition of the background electrolytes, com parison of constant voltage and constant current separation modes, sel ection of the best detection wavelengths and investigation of the matr ix effect of inorganic anions on the separation of organic acids were carried out. Simultaneous determination of inorganic anions and organi c acids was achieved by using chromate as UV absorbing carrier ion in the running buffer. Reliability of the analysis of anions in the extra cts of wide concentration range was improved by using constant current separation mode. Precision of the methods for migration time and peak area was found to be better than 0.5% and 2%, respectively. The resul ts obtained by the analytical methods yield useful data for atmospheri c physics and chemistry. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.