The retention of alkylphosphonic acids (MPA, EPA, PPA, and BPA) and inorganic anions (Cl, NO, and SO) were studied on two anion exchangers, e.g., Dionex IonPac AS4A-SC (250 ± 4 mm I.D.) and Satisfaction P 4000-SAX (50 ± 4.6 mm I.D.) under isocratic elution conditions with evaporative light scattering detector. The plots of retention factors, k, of organic anions vs. the reciprocal of eluent ion concentration show good linearity. The major retention mechanisms are interpreted as ion exchange and some others interactions. The C effect of organic modifier added to the aqueous buffered mobile phase is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]