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A method for the quantitative determination of the major anionic constituents of fountain solutions, typically mono-, di- and hydroxycarboxylates, alkylbenzenesulfonates, and inorganic anions, including orthophosphate and polyphosphates, is presented here for the first time. The analytical problems arising from extensive co-elution of many of these analytes on an ion-exchange column have been resolved through a combination of (i) careful selection of the concentration gradient of the sodium hydroxide eluent; (ii) parallel analysis by ion-exclusion chromatography; and (iii) determination of total phosphorus by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.