DETERMINATION OF AROMATIC SULFONATES IN SURFACE WATERS BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY WITH COUPLED FLUORESCENCE AND UV DETECTION

An HPLC procedure for determining anthraquinonesulphonates in the pres ence of both benzene- and naphthalensulphonates in river water was dev eloped. Enrichment of analytes was accomplished by means of solid-phas e extraction, based on an RP-18 reversed-phase silica cartridge coated with an aliphatic amine. The analytes were separated by ion-pair chro matography with coupled fluorescence and UV detection, which resulted in a convenient way to discriminate derivatives of benzene and of naph thalene from those of anthraquinone. The peaks of anthraquinonesulphon ates were identified by measuring the ratio of their absorbances at tw o different wavelengths. Four of the target analytes were found in wat er from the river Bormida (Italy).