Use of ion chromatography for the determination of heavy and transition metals in biochemical samples

A novel, highly sensitive method for simultaneous separation and determinat ion of Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Mn2+ and Pb2+ in biochemical samples w as developed and evaluated by ion chromatography. All of these metals were well separated on a bifunctional ion-exchange column by a concentration gra dient of oxalic acid and sodium chloride eluents, coupled with spectrophoto metric detection after post-column derivatization with 2-[(5-bromo-2-pyridy l)azo]-5-diethyl-aminophenol at 560 nm. The method detection limits (signal -to-noise 3:1) were at mu g l(-1) levels. The calibration graphs were linea r (r(2)>0.999) over two-orders of magnitude. This technique was optimized a nd validated by analyzing five standard biochemical references. (C) 1999 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.