Statistical evaluation of an analytical IC method for the determination of trace level perchlorate.

Trace level perchlorate analysis in water initiated a new development in the Ion Chromatography (IC) technology. Maintenance of a low detection limit may be highly affected by the operating conditions of the IC system. In this paper the homoscedasticity of the IC system within the calibration concentration range, the effect of the system drift on the calibration curve and the effect of the self regeneration suppressor (SRS) current on the detection limit were investigated. The experimental results were evaluated by statistical methods such as the Cochran test and the lack of fit test. The detection limits were obtained by two ways. One through method detection limit (MDL) and the other through detection limit from the calibration curve (DTC). The Cochran test results revealed the homoscedasticity of the IC system. The effect of system drift on the calibration curve was noticed by the lack of fit test. MDL yielded a lower but less reliable detection limit than DTC. An acceptable detection limit can be achieved under the lower SRS current (100 mA).