Patent ID: 9322815
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G01N

Claim Text:
1. An ion chromatography apparatus comprising, (a) a chromatographic column, having an inlet and an outlet, including ion exchange separation medium having exchangeable ions of one charge, positive or negative, for separating analyte ions of the same charge as said exchangeable ions, said chromatographic column not being associated with electrodes for passing an electric current through said separation medium, (b) a source of an aqueous eluent liquid stream in fluid communication with said chromatographic column inlet, (c) a detector, including an inlet and an outlet, for detecting analyte ions in a sample downstream from said chromatographic column outlet, said detector inlet being in fluid communication with said chromatographic column outlet, (d) a recycle line providing fluid communication between said detector and said chromatographic column inlet, (e) an electrolytic purifying device comprising a regenerant channel separated from a sample stream flow channel by an ion exchange removal membrane, said purifying device being capable of continuous regeneration by applying an electric field across said ion exchange removal membrane disposed along said recycle line, said ion exchange removal membrane including exchangeable ions of the same charge as said separation medium exchangeable ions, said sample stream flow channel being in fluid communication with said detector outlet, said apparatus not including a suppressor disposed between said chromatographic column outlet and said detector, and (f) an external water source being in fluid communication with said regenerant channel but not in fluid communication with said recycle line.