Patent ID: 8293099

Claim:
A chromatography system including apparatus for detecting current or potential generated by ionic species in a sample solution containing such ions, said chromatography system comprising: (a) an electrolytic ion transfer device including (1) a sample flow-through channel having an inlet and an outlet, (2) a first charged barrier disposed along said sample flow-through channel in fluid contact therewith, said first charged barrier being capable of passing ions of one charge, positive or negative, and of blocking bulk liquid flow, (3) a first chamber disposed on the opposite side of said first charged barrier from said sample flow-through channel, and (4) first and second electrodes in electrical communication with said first chamber and said sample flow-through channel, respectively; (b) an electrical signal detector in electrical communication with said first and second electrodes; (c) a chromatography column having an inlet and an outlet, said chromatography column outlet being upstream of and in fluid communication with said ion transfer device sample flow-through channel; and (d) an electrolytic suppressor having a suppressor sample channel having an inlet and an outlet, separated from a regenerant channel by a suppressor charged barrier capable of passing ions of one charge, positive or negative, and of blocking bulk liquid flow, said suppressor sample channel inlet being downstream of and in fluid communication with said chromatography column outlet and said suppressor sample channel outlet being upstream of and in fluid communication with said ion transfer device sample flow-through channel.