IC, ICP and AAS: Advantages and Disadvantages

[syx]

For ionic substances, especially for metals, which is the best analyzer? What are the advantages and disadvantages for each method?
Thanks in advance.

[sassman]

Ion Chromatography
Advantages: Can also do non-metals (F-, Cl-, SO4--, etc)
Disadvantages: Generates lots of chemical waste, long run times, can be interferences from sample matrix

Atomic Absorption
Advantages: Inexpensive, fast
Disadvantages: Not very sensitive (although GF-AA is better), can be interferences from sample matrix, only can run one element at a time (although newer instruments can perform sequential runs)

ICP
Advantages: More sensitive than other methods (especially ICP-MS), fast, can run multiple elements at once
Disadvantages: More expensive than other options

[Markus Laeubli, Metrohm]

You are asking for the determination of ionic substances. AAS and ICP are measuring the elemental composition. IC separates and determines the ions. This might be important if you ar looking for the non-complexed amount of cations.
The best method will be that which gives you the best anwser to your analytical question.