Novel chromatography process identified

Scientists have identified a novel ion chromatography process to measure the levels of bromate in sea water.

According to SeparationsNOW, Greg Dicinoski and his team at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, along with the help of the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, noted that because sea water has high levels of chloride and sulphate ions, it can be quite difficult to identify bromate ions with traditional ion chromatography methods.

Bromate is generated by ozonation, a process used to disinfect fish, but the ions are toxic to both fish and humans.

To get around this problem, the scientist chose to remove the interfering abundant ions prior to testing for bromate, using three column chromatography to eradicate the chloride ions, then the sulphate ions, leaving just the bromate ions to be detected.

The process has been used to test for bromate levels as low as 60µg/L.

"We are now in the process of refining the method and have tested it on ozonated sea-water, but have yet to incorporate it into the hatchery," Dicinoski told SeparationsNOW.

Posted by Fiona Griffiths