Quenching and liquid chromatographic determination of polythionates in natural water.

Polythionates in highly acidic, crater-lake water have been determined by ion-chromatography and high-performance microbore liquid chromatography. The first technique allows the determination of tri-, tetra- and pentathionate in excess of 10 ppm, and the second allows analysis for tetra-, penta- and hexathionate in excess of 0.2 ppm. The methods for preserving polythionates in natural solutions are also discussed. The recommended procedures for storage are to add hydroxylamine hydrochloride to sample solutions or to exclude atmospheric oxygen by using Winkler oxygen-determination bottles, followed by storage in a refrigerator at 5 degrees .