Liquid chromatographic separation of metals by on-column chelation with 4-(2-pyridylazo) resorcinol.

A method for the separation of trace levels of Zn(II), Fe(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) by on-column formation of their complexes with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol and subsequent separation of the complexes by reversed-phase liquid chromatography is described. Either acidic or buffered mobile phases can be used. For the separation using acidic mobile phases the role of the mobile-phase pH, concentration of PAR, and type of stationary phase is described. For buffered (slightly acidic) mobile phases it is shown that the complexing ability of the buffer can be used to influence the separation. Data on the use of this system for quantitative analysis are included.