Ion Chromatograph Systems
Ion Chromatograph Systems
Ion chromatography (IC) is an analytical technique used to separate and measure charged particles, such as anions and cations, in liquid samples. It operates on the principle of ion exchange chromatography, enabling accurate, high-sensitivity quantification across many industries.
Principle and Key Features
Ion chromatography systems, also known as ion chromatographs, are invaluable pieces of equipment used in technical analysis. Able to separate and quantify ionic species in liquid samples using ion-exchange mechanisms, ion chromatographs can analyse a variety of samples in routine testing and high-throughput analysis in various industries.
Common features of ion chromatographs include:
- High-resolution separation of anions (e.g., chloride, fluoride) and cations (e.g., calcium, sodium)
- Suppressor (and non-suppressor) systems to reduce background conductivity and improve sensitivity
- Food and beverage safety, for quantifying additives and biogenic amines
- Chemical and materials analysis, for ionic purity and contaminant detection
Shimadzu’s ion chromatographs offer increased sensitivity for components with low retention, such as fluorine ions, through a reduction in peak spreading, as well as an improvement in water-drip separation for high reliability. Furthermore, the compact design of our ion chromatographs means a more streamlined lab space, while software, including LabSolutions DB and DS, lets you manage analyses, data processing and reports seamlessly.
Applications
Ion chromatography is widely used in:
- Environmental testing, for monitoring anions in drinking water and wastewater
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing, for counterion analysis and impurity profiling
- Food and beverage safety, for quantifying additives and biogenic amines
- Chemical and materials analysis, for ionic purity and contaminant detection
FAQs
What does an ion chromatograph do?
An ion chromatograph separates and measures ions in a liquid sample. Due to the accuracy of ion chromatography, you’ll find ion chromatographs used in environmental testing to ascertain drinking water quality, for analyses of additive levels in food and beverage manufacturing, and counterion analysis in the pharmaceutical industry.
What are the methods of ion chromatography?
Two key methods of ion chromatography rely on the ion-exchange chromatography principle: suppressed ion chromatography and non-suppressed ion chromatography. The former uses a suppressor to reduce background signal, thereby improving detection with conductivity detectors. The latter requires a simpler setup, which can lead to lower sensitivity in analyses.
How accurate is ion chromatography?
Ion chromatography is highly accurate and sensitive, achieving trace-level detection of compounds in a sample mixture. While the precision of the analysis is influenced by the system setup, calibration and sample preparation, ion chromatography is suitable for regulatory and quality-control applications. This is because it is able to achieve detection limits in the parts-per-billion range.
What are the advantages of ion chromatography?
Ion chromatograph systems offer clear advantages in technical analysis. These include:
- High sensitivity and selectivity for ionic species
- Minimal sample preparation
- Multi-ion analysis in a single run
- Scalability for both routine and research use
- Reliability for compliance and trace contaminant testing.