Optimization of a Mobile Phase for Monitoring Strontium in Seawater Using Non‐suppressed Ion Chromatography

Abstract

A non‐suppressed ion chromatographic (IC) method has been developed for the monitoring of strontium in the presence of a large excess of alkali and alkaline earths. The mobile phase consisting of ethylenediamine (EDA) and organic acid as a complexing agent has been optimized in combination with a high‐speed cationic column. The reported method has been tested, successfully, to monitor strontium in coastal Arabian seawater with a coefficient of variation 2 (n = 5). The reported results have been compared with ICP‐OES analysis and are in agreement.

Keywords:

• Ion chromatography
• Mobile phase optimization
• High‐speed column
• Strontium assay in seawater

Acknowledgment

The authors are grateful to the Radio Isotope Application Division for generously donating Arabian seawater samples along with the details of collecting points.