Analytical Sciences

Determination of Copper and Iron Using [S,S′]-Ethylenediaminedisuccinic Acid as a Chelating Agent in Wood Pulp by Capillary Electrophoresis

Velupula NAGARAJU, Tedros GOJE, and Andrew M. CROUCH

Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag No. XI, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method is described for the simultaneous determination of copper and iron after complexation with a readily biodegradable chelating agent, [S,S′]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS), in wood pulp. CE separation was performed in a fused-silica capillary (50 µm i.d.; total length, 65 cm) with an electrolyte containing 25 mM borate buffer and 0.5 mM CTAB at pH 7.0 and an applied voltage of -25 kV. The samples were introduced by applying a 50 mbar pressure for 2 s, and detection of the complexes was monitored at 245 nm. The methodology performance of the methods was evaluated in terms of the linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ) and reproducibility. The applicability of the method was demonstrated for the analysis of copper and iron in wood pulp.

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