ICS-1000 Ion Chromatography System Operator's Manual

1 • Introduction3. Separation• As the eluent and sample are pumped through the separator column,the sample ions are separated. In the ICS-1000, the mode ofseparation is called ion exchange. This is based on the premise thatdifferent sample ions migrate through the IC column at different rates,depending upon their interactions with the ion exchange sites.4. Suppression• After the eluent and sample ions leave the column, they flow througha suppressor that selectively enhances detection of the sample ionswhile suppressing the conductivity of the eluent.5. Detection• A conductivity cell measures the electrical conductance of the sampleions as they emerge from the suppressor and produces a signal basedon a chemical or physical property of the analyte.6. Data Analysis• The conductivity cell transmits the signal to a data collection system.• The data collection system (for the ICS-1000, this is Chromeleon®)identifies the ions based on retention time, and quantifies each analyteby integrating the peak area or peak height. The data is quantitated bycomparing the sample peaks in a chromatogram to those producedfrom a standard solution. The results are displayed as a chromatogramand the concentrations of ionic analytes can be automaticallydetermined and tabulated.Doc. 031879-01 3/03 1-3