The selective retention of trace levels of the transition metal ions, Cu2+ and Pb2+ on a porous graphitic carbon (PGC) column, is described using ion chromatography with acidified aqueous mobile phases, post-column detection using PAR and spectrophotometric detection. PGC is a selective sorbent for Pb2+ and for Cu2+ in aqueous acidified solution, with the latter not eluting from the column. Variation of the concentration of added oxalic acid to the acidified aqueous mobile phase leads to the elution of Cu2+, and ion chromatography of a metal mixture of Ni2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ is optimised to give baseline resolution. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.