sodium-perchlorate and perchlorate

Some of the most important processes in nature involve interfacial water. It has long been conjectured that specific ion effects therein are associated with the unique properties of interfacial water. Here we reveal the mechanism of such association by showing that the strength of ion-specific long-range correlations tracks the amplification of fluctuations on the surface of water-alcohol mixtures at the percolation thresholds of their hydrogen-bonded water networks. We used in situ online electrospray mass spectrometry to determine χ = [I(-)]/[Br(-)] ratios in microfilms of (NaI + NaBr) solutions in water-methanol (ME) and water-isopropanol (IP) mixtures as functions of x(ME) and x(IP) molar fractions, and the addition of NaClO4. We found that, beginning at 0.1 μM, ClO4(-) has detectable effects on χ that peak at x(ME) ~ 0.40, x(IP) ~ 0.15, i.e., at water percolation thresholds where fluctuations maximize mean water cluster sizes and, hence, interionic connections. The stronger correlations between ions of similar surface propensities suggest that correlations propagate preferentially along 2-D interfacial layers.

Topics: 2-Propanol; Alcohols; Bromides; Hydrogen Bonding; Ions; Mass Spectrometry; Methanol; Perchlorates; Sodium Compounds; Sodium Iodide; Surface Properties; Water

Macrocycle-based ion chromatography provides a convenient, reliable method for the determination of perchlorate ion, which is currently of great interest to the environmental community. This study shows that effective perchlorate determinations can be made using standard conductimetric detection by combining an 18-crown-6-based mobile phase with an underivatized reversed-phase mobile phase ion chromatography (MPIC) column. One unique feature of this method is the flexibility in column capacity that is achieved through simple variations in eluent concentrations of 18-crown-6 and KOH, facilitating the separation of target analyte anions such as perchlorate. Using a standard anion exchange column as concentrator makes possible the determination of perchlorate as low as 0.2 ug/L in low ionic strength matrices. Determination of perchlorate at the sub-ug/L level in pure water and in spiked local city hard water samples with high background ion concentrations can be achieved this way. However, like other IC techniques, this method is challenged to achieve analyses at the ug/L level in the demanding high ionic strength matrix described by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1,000 mg/L chloride, sulfate and carbonate). We approached this challenge by use of the Cryptand C1 concentrator column, provided by Dionex Corporation, to effectively preconcentrate perchlorate while reducing background ion concentrations in the high ionic strength matrix. The retention characteristics of the concentrator column were studied in order to maximize its effectiveness for perchlorate determinations. The method makes possible the determination of perchlorate at the 5 ug/L level in the highest ionic strength matrix described by the EPA.

Topics: Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Crown Ethers; Ethers, Cyclic; Perchlorates; Reproducibility of Results; Schiff Bases; Sodium Compounds; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Water Supply

Since 1997 there has been increasing interest in the development of analytical methods for the analysis of perchlorate. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 314.0, which was used during the first Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation (UCMR) cycle, supports a method reporting limit (MRL) of 4.0 microg/L. The non-selective nature of conductivity detection, combined with very high ionic strength matrices, can create conditions that make the determination of perchlorate difficult. The objective of this work was to develop an automated, suppressed conductivity method with improved sensitivity for use in the second UCMR cycle. The new method, EPA Method 314.1, uses a 35 mm x 4 mm cryptand concentrator column in the sample loop position to concentrate perchlorate from a 2 mL sample volume, which is subsequently rinsed with 10 mM NaOH to remove interfering anions. The cryptand concentrator column is combined with a primary AS16 analytical column and a confirmation AS20 analytical column. Unique characteristics of the cryptand column allow perchlorate to be desorbed from the cryptand trap and refocused on the head of the guard column for subsequent separation and analysis. EPA Method 314.1 has a perchlorate lowest concentration minimum reporting level (LCMRL) of 0.13 microg/L in both drinking water and laboratory synthetic sample matrices (LSSM) containing up to 1,000 microg/L each of chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate.

Topics: Chromatography, Liquid; Ethers, Cyclic; Guidelines as Topic; Perchlorates; Reference Standards; Reproducibility of Results; Schiff Bases; Sodium Compounds; Solvents; Temperature; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Water Supply