DETERMINATION OF SHORT-CHAIN ALIPHATIC, OXOACIDS AND HYDROXYACIDS IN DRINKING-WATER AT LOW MICROGRAM PER LITER CONCENTRATIONS

A fast and reliable ion chromatography method has been developed and a pplied to study the formation and consumption of organic acid ozonatio n by-products in a drinking water treatment plant. Water samples are i njected directly into the ion chromatograph using a large sample loop (740 mu l) without any sample preparation step other than possibly fil tration. Organic and inorganic anions are determined by separation on a high-capacity anion-exchange column followed by conductivity detecti on. The average recovery for the organic acids investigated (beta-hydr oxybutyric, acetic, glycolic, butyric, formic, alpha-ketobutyric and p yruvic acid) ranged from 96 to 105%, and their method detection limits ranged from 1 to 5 mu g/l. When applied to samples taken from a drink ing water treatment plant, the method proved to be reliable.