Comparison of ion chromatographic methods based on conductivity detection,post-column-reaction and on-line-coupling IC-ICP-MS for the determination of bromate

An established method for the determination of the disinfection by-product bromate is ion chromatography (IC), This paper presents a comparison of thr ee IC methods based on either conductivity detection (IC-CD), a post-column -reaction (IC-PCR-VIS) or the on-line-coupling with inductively coupled pla sma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS), Main characteristics of the methods such as method detection limits (MDL), time of analysis and sample pretreatment are compared and applicability for routine analysis is critically discusse d. The most sensitive and rugged method is IC-ICP-MS, followed by IC-PCR-VI S. The photometric detection is subject to a minor interference in real wor ld samples, presumably caused by carbonate. The lowest sensitivity is shown by the IC-CD method as slowest method compared, which, in addition, requir es a sample pretreatment. The highest amount of information is delivered by IC-PCR-VIS, which allows the simultaneous determination of the seven stand ard anions and bromate.