Chromatographic and electrophoretic separation of inorganic sulfur and sulfur–oxygen species

• Published in: Analytica Chimica Acta Vol. 432; no. 2; pp. 165 - 192
• Main Authors: O’Reilly, John W., Dicinoski, Greg W., Shaw, Matthew J., Haddad, Paul R.
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 29.03.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Capillary electrophoresis; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Exact sciences and technology; Ion chromatography; Other chromatographic methods; Review; Sample handling; Sulfur; Sulfur speciation; ODS, octadecylsilica; THF, tetrahydrofuran; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; n-BuOH, n-butanol; DETA, diethylenetriamine; TTA, tetradecyltrimethylammonium; Sulfur speciation; TBA, tetrabutylammonium; PMA, pyromellitic acid; MBB, monobromobimane; HDB, hexadimethrine bromide; Review; HEMA, hydroxyethyl methacrylate; CE, capillary electrophoresis; ACN, acetonitrile; HAH, hydroxylammonium chloride; LC, liquid chromatography; TPA, tetrapropylammonium; NS, not specified; TrEA, triethanolamine; FTIR, Fourier transform infra-red; GC, gas chromatography; DTNP, 2,2′-dithiobis(5-nitropyridine); MeOH, methanol; Sulfur; EDA, ethylenediamine; FIA, flow injection analysis; EtOH, ethanol; Capillary electrophoresis; CTA, cetyltrimethylammonium; 2-PrOH, 2-propanol; DEtA, diethanolamino; IC, ion chromatography; MDEA, methyldiethanolamine; Sample handling; BTC, benzenetricarboxylate; PCR, post-column reaction; DVB, divinylbenzene; THAM, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; BGE, background electrolyte; NTS, naphthalenetrisulfonate; Ion chromatography; ICP-MS, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry; Ac, acetate; CHES, 2-( N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonic acid; Tris, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane; Sulfur compounds; Chemical analysis; Multicomponent analysis; Inorganic anion; Sample preparation; Liquid chromatography; Chemical enrichment
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-2670(00)01389-1

A review is presented of the use of chromatographic and electrophoretic methods for the separation of inorganic sulfur species in aqueous matrices, with particular emphasis on ion chromatographic methods. The species considered are elemental sulfur, sulfide, polysulfides (S x 2−), sulfite, sulfate, thiosulfate, dithionate, polythionates (S x O 6 2−) and metal–thiosulfate complexes. A brief introduction to sulfur anion chemistry is given, followed by a discussion of the separation and determination of sulfur species using ion chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and other separation-based techniques. Difficulties inherent in the analysis of complex sulfur anion mixtures are indicated and the procedures that have been used to overcome these difficulties are also examined.