title: Determination of phosphonates in natural waters by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography.
abstract: The paper describes a new method for the determination of phosphonates by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography. The phosphonates are complexed with Fe(III) and separated on a reversed-phase polymer column. The eluent consists of a bicarbonate solution at pH 8.3, tetrabutylammoniumbromide as counter-ion and 14% acetonitrile. The complexes are detected at 260 nm. The four phosphonates HEDP (1-hydroxyethylene-1,1-diphosphonic acid). ATMP (aminotris [methylenephosphonic acid]), EDTMP [ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid)], and DTPMP [diethylenetriaminepenta (methylenephosphonic acid)] are well separated within 20 min. The limits of detection are 5.10(-8) M for ATMP and EDTMP, 1.10(-7) M for DTPMP and 5.10(-7) M for HEDP. The method is suitable for the determination of phosphonates in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants. A preconcentration of 10 is easily achieved by adsorption of the phosphonates onto freshly precipitated calcium carbonate and subsequent dissolution of the solid-phase by HCl.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA), St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nowack
mesh_terms: D000097:Acetonitriles; D001639:Bicarbonates; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D003902:Detergents; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000032:analysis*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000097:Acetonitriles; D001639:Bicarbonates; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003902:Detergents; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D063065:Organophosphonates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014867:Water; C018940:(ethylenedinitrilo)-tetramethylenephosphonic acid; C042719:diethylenetriaminepenta(methylenephosphonic) acid; C041182:(nitrilotris(methylene))triphosphonic acid; C009405:tetrabutylammonium; D012968:Etidronic Acid; C032159:acetonitrile