Patent ID: 6200477
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of detecting analyte ions in an aqueous mobile phase comprising electrolyte using continuous electrochemical regeneration of a suppressor comprising:(a) separating the analyte ions in a mobile phase comprising electrolyte;(b) flowing the separated analyte ions and mobile phase through a suppressor comprising ion-exchange resin through which the mobile phase and analyte ions are flowed thereby suppressing the mobile phase electrolyte and at least partially exhausting the suppressor ion-exchange resin;(c) flowing an aqueous liquid through the suppressor and applying an electrical potential across the suppressor ion-exchange resin during step (b) to electrolyze water and thereby generating regeneration ions selected from the group consisting of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions;(d) flowing the regeneration ions through the at least partially exhausted suppressor ion exchange resin in substantially the same direction as the direction of liquid flow through the suppressor ion exchange resin during step (b): and(e) detecting the analyte ions.