HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTIONFOR THE DETERMINATION OF VANADIUM(V) IN RIVER WATER AND MUSSEL SAMPLES

A highly sensitive method has been developed for the determination of vanadium(V) by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with electrochemic al detection at -0.60 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The metal complex with N-phenylbe nzohydroxamic acid was separated on a C-18 (ODS) column; the mobile ph ase was a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile-acetate buffer (0.02 mol l (-1), pH 3.5) containing 0.05 mol l(-1) potassium nitrate. The elution peak due to the vanadium(V) complex appeared on the chromatogram, and the peak height was proportional to the concentration of the metal io n in the range of 3.0-100.0 ng ml(-1). The detection limit for vanadiu m(V) was 1.0 ng ml(-1). he method has been applied to the determinatio n of vanadium in two river water samples and one mussel homogenate wit h precise results.