Patent ID: 7390386

Claim:
A method for electrolytically purifying an aqueous stream, adding a liquid sample stream containing an analyte ion to said purified aqueous stream, and detecting said analyte ion, said aqueous stream including at least one contaminant ion, said method comprising (a) flowing said aqueous stream through a purifying flow channel having an inlet and an outlet, (b) applying an electric field through said flowing aqueous stream in said purifying flow channel between first and second spaced electrodes of opposite charge, said first electrode being of opposite charge to said contaminant ion, and (c) removing said contaminant ion, but not ions of opposite charge to said contaminant ion, from said aqueous stream in said purifying flow channel to produce a purified aqueous stream which flows out said flow channel outlet while drawing said contaminant ion toward said first electrode, (d) adding a liquid sample to said purified aqueous stream exiting from said purifying flow channel, said liquid sample comprising at least a first analyte ion, said analyte ion being of the same charge, positive or negative, as said contaminant ion, and (e) detecting said analyte ion.