Determination of inorganic chlorine species in kraft mill bleach effluents by ion chromatography

A sensitive ion chromatography method has been developed for the determination of chlorine dioxide, chloride, chlorite, chlorate and several other anions in kraft mill bleach effluents. The new method overcomes problems found in existing methods, such as low recovery of chlorine dioxide and poor resolution of chlorite from organic anions. The effects of storage time and temperature on the stability of inorganic chlorine species and other ions, in first bleaching, first extraction, final bleaching and combined mill effluent samples were also studied. In addition, the efficacy of ethylenediamine as a preservative for chlorite and its impact on chlorine dioxide in stored samples of final bleaching stage effluent were assessed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.