Patent ID: 7288176

Claim:
A method for generating an eluant comprising: a. providing water; b. providing a first stationary phase comprising exchangeable cations; c. generating electrolysis ions by the electrolysis of water wherein the electrolysis ions are selected from the group consisting of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions; d. flowing the hydronium ions through the first stationary phase so that the hydronium ions replace the cations in the first stationary phase; e. combining the cations with the hydroxide ions to form a cation hydroxide solution before performing step (h); f. separating gases produced during the generation of electrolysis ions from the cation hydroxide solution after performing step (e); g. providing a source of carbonate ions consisting of a second stationary phase comprising carbonate ions; and h. flowing the cation hydroxide solution through the second stationary phase so that the hydroxide ions replace the carbonate ions and the cations combine with the carbonate ions to form an eluant containing carbonate ions.