On-line separation and determination of bromate in drinking waters using flow injection ICP mass spectrometry

A flow injection (FI) system with a microcolumn of anion exchanger has been used to effect rapid on-line separation of bromate and bromide prior to quantitation by ICP mass spectrometry. Basic performance studies are described including the effect of key FI parameters, i.e., sample injection volume, carrier stream flow rate, and eluent concentration on system response. The new approach permitted ultratrace determinations of bromate in drinking waters, the main benefits being low limit of detection (0.13 microg/L based on a 500-microL sample injection), rapid analysis time (10 min/sample), and good precision (2.8% at the 5 microg/L level). Accuracy was checked via an EC-sponsored interlaboratory trial.