Elution behaviour of anions and cations on a mixed-bed stationary phase of anion and cation exchange resins

Abstract

The retention mechanism of anions and cations on a mixed-bed column packed with a mixture of strong anion and cation exchange resins has been studied. Organic acids and inorganic anions have showed the same elution behaviour on the mixed-bed column as on a single anion exchange column. In contrast, different elution behaviours for cations have been observed between the mixed-bed column and a single cation exchange column. On the mixed-bed column, cations would be eluted by a mixed retention mechanism. The primary retention mechanism is ion exchange with eluent cation (H+) for all cations. The ion exchange mechanism on the sites occupied by anion exchange groups makes a greater contribution for monovalent cations. A partition mechanism between the stationary phase and mobile phase contributes to the separation of Mg2+ and Ca2+ by forming neutral compounds.