Patent ID: 6328885
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
Apparatus for treating an aqueous sample stream including analyte ions and matrix ions of opposite charge to said analyte ions, said apparatus comprising a first ion exchange membrane capable of passing only ions of opposite charge to said analyte ions, a sample stream flow channel, an aqueous stream ion receiving flow channel adjacent to said sample stream flow channel and separated therefrom by said first membrane, said sample stream flow channel and ion receiving stream flow channel having adjacent upstream portions and downstream portions, respectively, stationary flow-through first packing of ion exchange disposed in said ion receiving flow channel of the same charge as said first membrane, said sample stream flow channel having an upstream portion containing matrix ions and an adjacent downstream portion in which said matrix ions have been suppressed, first and second electrodes in electrical communication with said upstream sample stream flow channel and ion receiving flow channel, respectively, said sample stream upstream portion having an electrical resistance no greater than about 0.9 times the electrical resistance of said sample stream downstream portion.