Open tubular capillary columns for liquid and ion chromatography, based upon an ionically impermeable polyolefin capillary having a bore with a sulfonate-group- or amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may include a coating of ion exchanging nanoparticles electrostatically bound to the functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may be made by exposing the interior surface to a sulfonating reagent comprising chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO.sub.3H), preferably from 85 wt % to 95 wt % chlorosulfonic acid at a process temperature of 20 to 25° C. The interior surface may be subsequently exposed to an asymmetrical diamine to form a sulfonic mid-linkage to the diamine, i.e., to form a sulfonamide-linked, amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The coating may be provided by subsequently exposing the interior surface to an aqueous suspension of ion exchanging nanoparticles to electrostatically bond the ion exchanging nanoparticles to the functionalized internal surface.

A permeative amine/acid introduction device (PAID) is placed after a conventional KOH eluent suppressed conductometric anion chromatography (SCAC) system. The PAID converts the suppressed eluites from the acid form to the corresponding salt. For example, when the analytes are acids, they are converted to the corresponding ammonium salt (NR.sub.2H+HX.fwdarw.NR.sub.2H.sub.2.sup.++X.sup.−) and allows very weak acids HX (pK.sub.a≥7.0) that cannot normally be detected by SCAC to be measured by a second conductivity detector following the PAID. Permeative reagent introduction is dilutionless, can be operated without pumps and provides good mixing with low band dispersion (as small as 30 μL). An exemplary amine is diethylamine (DEA), which was chosen as the amine source due to its low pK.sub.b value (pK.sub.b 3.0), high vapor pressure, and low toxicity and low odor.

An ion source and ion recycle module includes an electrolyte reservoir, an eluent recovery chamber, and an ion exchange connector. The electrolyte reservoir includes a chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution including an electrolyte having a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, and a first electrode. The chamber inlet is fluidically connected to a source chamber of an electrolytic eluent generator and configured to receive depleted electrolyte solution from the source chamber of the electrolytic eluent generator. The chamber outlet is fluidically connected to the source chamber of the electrolytic eluent generator and configured to provide recycled electrolyte solution to the electrolytic eluent generator source chamber. The eluent recovery chamber including a second electrode and configured to receive an eluent solution including eluent counter ions from the eluent generator; and the ion exchange connector including an ion exchange membrane stack.

An electrolytic device, e.g. a suppressor, including at least two flow-through channels separated by a charged membrane barrier, and a catalyst, for combining hydrogen and oxygen gas, together with ion exchange material, disposed in one of the channels. Also, a method for simultaneous electrolysis and catalytic gas elimination in a channel of the device is described.

An electrolytic eluent generator includes an electrolyte reservoir, an eluent generation chamber, and an ion exchange membrane stack. The electrolyte reservoir includes a chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution including an electrolyte and a surfactant; and a first electrode. The eluent generation chamber including a second electrode. The ion exchange connector includes an ion exchange membrane stack, and a compression block.

An in-line electrolytic reagent concentrator device that circumvents the need for additional pumps and supplies of reagents to support operation of a carbonate or ammonia removal device. The device generates regenerant solutions as strong as, or even stronger, than commercially recommended regenerant solutions. The device may also regenerate eluent solutions so as to reduce the frequency of eluent maintenance and replacement in ion chromatography systems.

A system for self-regulating a suppressor includes an ion chromatography suppressor, a power supply for applying an electric potential to the suppressor, and a control unit configured to provide an offset voltage V.sub.OS and an applied voltage V.sub.A to the suppressor, measure a current of the suppressor responsive to the offset and applied voltages V.sub.OS and V.sub.A, determine a suppressor state of the suppressor based upon the measured current, and adjust the offset voltage V.sub.OS based upon the suppressor state. A method for self-regulating a suppressor is also disclosed.

Open tubular capillary columns for liquid and ion chromatography, based upon an ionically impermeable polyolefin capillary having a bore with a sulfonate-group- or amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may include a coating of ion exchanging nanoparticles electrostatically bound to the functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may be made by exposing the interior surface to a sulfonating reagent comprising chlorosulfonic acid (CISO.sub.3H), preferably from 85 wt % to 95 wt % chlorosulfonic acid at a process temperature of 20 to 25 C. The interior surface may be subsequently exposed to an asymmetrical diamine to form a sulfonic mid-linkage to the diamine, i.e., to form a sulfonamide-linked, amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The coating may be provided by subsequently exposing the interior surface to an aqueous suspension of ion exchanging nanoparticles to electrostatically bond the ion exchanging nanoparticles to the functionalized internal surface.

Open tubular capillary columns for liquid and ion chromatography, based upon an ionically impermeable polyolefin capillary having a bore with a sulfonate-group- or amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may include a coating of ion exchanging nanoparticles electrostatically bound to the functionalized internal surface. The capillary columns may be made by exposing the interior surface to a sulfonating reagent comprising chlorosulfonic acid (ClSO.sub.3H), preferably from 85 wt % to 95 wt % chlorosulfonic acid at a process temperature of 20 to 25 C. The interior surface may be subsequently exposed to an asymmetrical diamine to form a sulfonic mid-linkage to the diamine, i.e., to form a sulfonamide-linked, amine-group-functionalized internal surface. The coating may be provided by subsequently exposing the interior surface to an aqueous suspension of ion exchanging nanoparticles to electrostatically bond the ion exchanging nanoparticles to the functionalized internal surface.

A permeative amine/acid introduction device (PAID) is placed after a conventional KOH eluent suppressed conductometric anion chromatography (SCAC) system. The PAID converts the suppressed eluites from the acid form to the corresponding salt. For example, when the analytes are acids, they are converted to the corresponding ammonium salt (NR.sub.2H+HX.fwdarw.NR.sub.2H.sub.2.sup.++X.sup.) and allows very weak acids HX (pK.sub.a7.0) that cannot normally be detected by SCAC to be measured by a second conductivity detector following the PAID. Permeative reagent introduction is dilutionless, can be operated without pumps and provides good mixing with low band dispersion (as small as 30 L). An exemplary amine is diethylamine (DEA), which was chosen as the amine source due to its low pK.sub.b value (pK.sub.b 3.0), high vapor pressure, and low toxicity and low odor.