Patent ID: 8021555

Claim:
A method for suppressed ion chromatography using a regenerant solution recycle loop, comprising (a) separating sample ions of one charge, positive or negative, in a liquid sample stream including eluent by flowing the same through ion separation medium in an ion separation device, (b) suppressing said eluent by flowing the effluent from said ion separation medium through a sample stream flow channel of 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) detecting said separated sample ions by flowing the effluent from said sample stream flow channel through a detector, (d) flowing a regenerant solution through said regenerant flow channel, (e) providing a regenerant solution reservoir, and (f) flowing said regenerant solution between said regenerant solution reservoir and said regenerant flow channel in a recycle loop independent of liquid flow through said detector.