Ion Chromatography (IC)
Crane Engineering uses the Dionex Ion Chromatography system to separate, accurately detect, and quantify ionic species in a water matrix. With the cation-exchange column we are able to provide isocratic separation of aliphatic amines, alkanolamines, ammonium, alkali, and alkaline earth cations using methanesulfonic acid or sulfuric acid eluents. Our anion-exchange column is capable of isocratic separation of fluoride, acetate, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate using a simple carbonate/bicarbonate eluent.
How ion chromatography works:
- The ionic species are carried by an aqueous mobile phase through an ion exchange resin for separation.
- The amount of each ion present is measured by a detection method such as conductivity or amperometry.
Uses:
- Drinking water and wastewater analyses.
- Assays of salts and ionic solutions.
- Measurement of minerals in food products.
Application examples:
- Determine chloride in copper plating baths
- Determine iodide in milk
- Determine oxalate in urine
- Determine alkyl amines, alkanolamines, and cyclic amines such as morpholine or cyclohexylamine in the presence of lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.
- Determine manganese for corrosion monitoring
Sample guidelines for IC analysis:
- Analytes must be water-soluble and must separate into charged species when dissolved in water.
- Sample matrices include chemical additives, chemical process solutions, scrubber solutions and plating baths, waste water, soil extracts, and solvents.
- Since ion chromatography does not have the ability to identify unknowns, standards are needed for the analysis.
- Detection limit is typically low ppb level in solution.
Please contact Kerri Schnell, for more specific details on sample guidelines and IC analysis techniques.