Utilization of High Performance Ion Chromatography (HPIC) method for the determination of total sulphur content in different biological samples

Sulphur (S) in the plants is assimilated from the soil as a sulphate ion and further being reduced to the organosulphide species. This work has been aimed to assess total S content in the natural and artificial fertilizers and plant material by using a High Performance Ion Chromatographic (HPIC) method. Samples from natural and artificial fertilizers and plant material were prepared by digestion and oxidation with a mixture of perchloric and nitric acid. HPIC method was performed with a Shimadzu Ion Chromatograph equipped with conductivity detector CDD-10A. Deggased and diluted samples were analysed on Shodex IC SI-90G strong exchange column, using a mobile phase: carbonate buffer NaHCO₃ (0,0017M) and Na₂CO₃ (0,0018M), during the 20 minutes at 40 oC and 1.0 mLmin^-1 flow rate. The total S content in the analysed fertilizers varies from 15,8mg/g to 5.0mg/g (for arificial fertilizers), 2,5mg/g to 0,8mg/g (for natural fertilizers), and for different plant material varies from 1,85mg/g to 0,29mg/g. Used HPIC method is simple, sensitive and accurate and can be applied for the determination of total S content in the natural and artificial fertilizers and plant material. This experiment illustrates the utility of HPIC as a reliable analytical tool. Results of this analysis could recommend optimal soil fertilization for the cultivation of the plants with a highest S metabolic needs.