A Screening Protocol for the Direct Determination of Low PPB Levels of Uranyl Cation Using Arsenazo III and Capillary Electrophoresis

Abstract

Capillary electrophoresis is used as a screening protocol for the determination of uranyl ion complexed with Arsenazo III. Long sample plugs are injected and stacked to narrow zones. Capillary column inner diameter, running buffer constituents and concentrations, effective column length and injected sample plug length are optimized and discussed. A limit of detection of 10 ppb is achieved with a linear dynamic range of nearly 3 orders of magnitude in concentration injected. Analytical figures of merit are presented and river water samples are analyzed.