Metrohm has developed a method for the determination of cations at trace levels in boiler water samples from nuclear and conventional power plants using its Inline Sample Preparation technology.
The 850 Professional Ion Chromatography (IC) instrument from Metrohm allows for ng l-1 analysis of cations in complex power plant matrices.
The ProfIC 9 system with Metrohm inline sample pre-concentration and matrix elimination allows chromatography unaffected by matrix influences and ensures that the analytical column has a long lifetime.
Metrohm inline calibration permits very low concentrations in the lowest ng l-1 range to be reliably calibrated using a single standard of higher concentration in the ppb range.
The sample is transferred to the pre-concentration column automatically by Dosino technology.
The cations are retained and the matrix can be removed in a rinsing step.
The clean sample is then injected to the IC system.
The 850 Professional IC - Prep 2 is equipped with an additional valve for liquid handling.
The peristaltic pump transfers the standard solution.
MagIC Net software controls and monitors the system; if a timeline or tolerance is exceeded then the user is informed.
Calibration and calculation of the results as a function of pre-concentration volume is also carried out by the MagIC software.
The 858 sample processor is able to accept, for example, 250ml sample containers directly on the rack to minimise sample handling.
The rinsing station on the processor ensures that the needle is cleaned inside and outside with fresh clean water in between determinations.
