Ion chromatographic determination of cyanate in saline gold processing samples

An ion chromatographic method was developed for the determination of cyanate (CNO-) in saline gold processing samples. The method is based on the use of a very weak-eluting buffer (5 mM sodium borate) and a Dionex AS4A-SC anion-exchange column. This weak-eluting buffer facilitates the wide chromatographic separation of chloride (Cl-) from CNO-. After CNO- has been eluted, the switch to 1.8 mM Na2CO3-1.7 mM NaHCO3 buffer allows the fast elution of other major inorganic and organic anions. Validation of this method, including identification of interferences, has shown that this method is reliable, accurate, sensitive (detection limit, 0.1 mg/l CNO-) and reproducible.