title: Determination of phosphite in a eutrophic freshwater lake by suppressed conductivity ion chromatography.
abstract: The establishment of a sensitive and specific method for the detection of reduced phosphorus (P) is crucial for understanding P cycle. This paper presents the quantitative evidence of phosphite (P, +3) from the freshwater matrix correspondent to the typically eutrophic Lake Taihu in China. By ion chromatography coupled with gradient elution procedure, efficient separation of micromolar levels of phosphite is possible in the presence of millimolar levels of interfering ions, such as chloride, sulfate, and hydrogen carbonate in freshwater lakes. Optimal suppressed ion chromatography conditions include the use of 500 μL injection volumes and an AS11 HC analytical column heated to 30 °C. The method detection limit of 0.002 μM for phosphite was successfully applied for phosphite determination in natural water samples with recoveries ranging from 90.7 ± 3.2% to 108 ± 1.5%. Phosphite in the freshwater matrix was also verified using a two-dimensional capillary ion chromatography and ion chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results confirmed the presence of phosphite in Lake Taihu ranging from 0.01 ± 0.01 to 0.17 ± 0.01 μM, which correlated to 1-10% of the phosphate. Phosphite is an important component of P and may influence biogeochemical P cycle in lakes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Nanjing 210046, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jinju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Xianchuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hongqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Shixiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000737:chemistry; D002681:China; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods*; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis*; D007477:Ions; D060106:Lakes; D017905:Phosphites / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D007477:Ions; D017905:Phosphites; D013431:Sulfates