METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ION ANALYSIS AND DETECTION USING REVERSE MODE SUPPRESSION

摘要

A method of ion analysis and detection of weakly dissociated anions or cations in an eluent by first separating such ions on a chromatographic separation medium by ion exclusion chromatography or mobile phase ion exclusion chromatography. The eluent includes an acid or base with a co-ion of the same charge as the ions to be separated, such co-ions being in the hydronium or hydroxide form. In one embodiment the effluent from the separation medium is contacted with one side of an ion-exchange membrane (20) having exchangeable ions of opposite charge to the ionic species. The opposite side of the membrane includes a regenerant with salt-forming suppression ions capable of forming a weakly conducting salt with the co-ions. Then the separated ionic species are detected preferably by a conductivity detector (12). In another embodiment, the membrane is replaced by a resin bed with ion-exchangig sites of opposite charge to the co-ions. There, co-ions form a suppressed salt with the exchangeable ions.