Patent ID: 6077434
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for treating an aqueous sample stream including analyte ions of one charge and matrix ions of opposite charge to said analyte ions, said method comprising flowing the sample stream through a sample stream flow channel simultaneously flowing an aqueous stream through an ion receiving flow channel separated therefrom by a first ion exchange membrane capable of passing only ions of opposite charge to said analyte ions, while passing a current between said sample stream flow channel and said ion receiving flow channel to reduce the concentration of said matrix ions in an effluent from said sample stream flow channel, said sample stream flow channel having an upstream sample stream portion containing said matrix ions and an adjacent downstream sample stream portion in which said matrix ions have been suppressed, said upstream portion having an electrical resistance no greater than about 0.9 times that of the downstream portion, said ion receiving flow channel including stationary flow-through first packing of ion exchange material of the same charge as said first membrane.