Patent ID: 6562628
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for ion analysis comprising:(a) a chromatographic separator comprising chromatographic separating medium for separating ionic species of a sample eluted therethrough with an eluent solution comprising an electrolyte including electrolyte ions of opposite charge to said ionic species, said chromatographic separator having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a suppressor for treating effluent eluted from said chromatographic separator, said suppressor including (1) a chromatography effluent compartment having an inlet and an outlet, (2) an ion receiving compartment having an inlet and an outlet, (3) at least a first suppressor ion exchange barrier partitioning said chromatography eluent compartment and ion receiving compartment and defining therewith a chromatography effluent flow channel and an ion receiving flow channel, respectively, each having an inlet and an outlet, said first suppressor barrier being preferentially permeable to ions of one charge only, positive or negative, of the same charge as said transmembrane electrolyte ions, (c) a detector suitable for detecting separated ionic species having an inlet and an outlet, said detector inlet communicating with said chromatography effluent channel outlet to receive treated chromatography effluent therefrom, (d) an eluent generator comprising: (1) at least a first generator electrode chamber having an inlet and outlet, (2) a first generator electrode disposed in said first generator electrode chamber, (3) an electrolyte ion reservoir, (4) at least a first charged generator barrier separating said first eluent generator electrode chamber from said electrolyte ion reservoir, said first generator barrier preventing significant liquid flow but permitting transport of said electrolyte ions, (5) a second generator electrode in electrical communication with said first electrode through said electrolyte ion reservoir, said second generator electrode being on the opposite side of said first generator barrier from said first generator electrode, (6) a first conduit providing fluid communication between said ion receiving compartment outlet and said second generator electrode, and (7) a source of aqueous liquid in fluid communication with said first generator electrode chamber inlet, and (e) a second conduit providing fluid communication between said first generator electrode chamber outlet and said chromatographic separator inlet.