Patent ID: 7473354

Claim:
Suppressed ion chromatographic apparatus using a regenerant recycle loop, comprising (a) an ion separation device including ion separation medium with exchangeable ions of one charge, positive or negative, (b) a membrane suppressor comprising a sample stream flow channel, having an inlet and an outlet, a regenerant flow channel, having an inlet and an outlet, and an ion exchange membrane separating said sample stream flow channel and regenerant flow channel, (c) a detector having an inlet and an outlet, said detector inlet being in fluid communication with said sample stream flow channel outlet, (d) a container for regenerant solution, (e) a first conduit providing fluid communication between said ion separation device and said sample stream flow channel inlet, (f) a second conduit providing fluid communication between said regenerant solution container and said regenerant flow channel, (g) a third conduit providing fluid communication between said regenerant channel and said regenerant solution container, and (h) a regenerant solution recycle loop comprising said second and third conduits, said recycle loop being out of fluid communication with said detector outlet.