Based on the different properties of iodide and iodate species in somesorption materials a new chromatographic method was developed to study thespeciation of iodine in a mangrove system. Two sorption materials, aluminaand silica, were investigated and several distribution coefficients for iodideand iodate were determined at different concentrations of NaOH, NaNO3 and NaHCO3 solutions. The best separation results wereobtained percolating sea water samples, containing iodine species, througha glass column filled with alumina. The iodide passed through the column afterwashing the column with 0.1M sodium nitrate solution, and the iodate was elutedwith a 0.5M sodium bicarbonate solution.