Determination of Formate, Acetate and Oxalate in Environmental Samples by Ion Chromatography

A method for the determination of formate, acetate and oxalate in environmental samples by ion chromatography is described. The result showed that the detection limits of the method for formate, acetate and oxalate were 0.02 mg/L, 0.10 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L; recoveries were 93%～106%, 94%～108% and 92%～109%; the RSDs were 1.2%, 2.4% and 2.7%; the linear ranges were 0.00～30 mg/L, 0.00～30 mg/L and 0.00～50 mg/L. The method is simple, rapid and reliable for determining formate, acetate and oxalate in rain, exhaust gas, surface water and ground water.