First and second electrode liquid seal members are arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode. First and second ion exchange membranes are arranged between the first electrode liquid seal member and the second electrode liquid seal member. An eluent seal member is arranged between the first ion exchange membrane and the second ion exchange membrane. A plurality of first mesh members having different charge amounts are stacked in a first electrode liquid flow path of the first electrode liquid seal member. Each of the plurality of first mesh members is constituted by a first wire group composed of a plurality of first wires and a second wire group composed of a plurality of second wires crossing the first wire group. The plurality of first wire groups of the plurality of first mesh members respectively extend in different directions, and the plurality of second wire groups of the plurality of first mesh members respectively extend in different directions and extend in directions different from those of the plurality of first wire groups.

An apparatus for treating an aqueous sample stream includes analyte ions. The apparatus comprises an ion exchange barrier; a sample stream flow channel; an ion receiving stream flow channel adjacent to the sample stream flow channel and separated therefrom by said first ion exchange bather. Stationary flow-through ion exchange packing is disposed in the sample flow channel of the same charge as the ion exchange bather. The ion exchange packing comprises a mixture of a first ion exchange portion with strong ionizable groups and a second ion exchange portion with weak ionizable groups of the same charge. First and second electrodes are in electrical communication with the sample stream flow channel and ion receiving flow channel.

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.

An ion processing device includes, on the side of an anion exchange layer of a bipolar membrane which is formed by stacking an anion exchange layer and a cation exchange layer, an anion-side channel which is filled with an anion exchanger, and an anion removal channel provided via an anion exchange membrane, and also includes an anode for moving anions from the anion-side channel to the anion removal channel through the anion exchange membrane. Further, a cation-side channel which is filled with a cation exchanger and a cation removal channel provided via a cation exchange membrane are included on the side of the cation exchange layer of the bipolar membrane as well as a cathode for moving cations from the cation-side channel to the cation removal channel through the cation exchange membrane.

The suppressor system is provided with: a suppressor which has an eluent flow path and a suppression solution flow path, the eluent flow path and the suppression solution flow path being separated from each other by an ion exchange membrane; a circulation flow path which connects the inlet and the outlet of the suppression solution flow path of the suppressor, and circulates a suppression solution; an ion exchange resin column which is provided on the circulation flow path, and is equipped with a resin accommodation unit through which the suppression solution flowing out of the suppressor is passed, an acidic or alkaline ion exchange resin being accommodated in the resin accommodation unit; and a life detector which determines the life of the ion exchange resin in the ion exchange resin column.

A conductivity detector module for an ion chromatography system includes a detector cell configured to receive an eluent stream from the ion chromatography system, the detector cell including a first electrode and a second electrode in electrical contact with the eluent stream; a first current branch coupled to a first cell drive input and to the first electrode and providing a first cell output; and a second current branch coupled to a second cell drive input and to the second electrode and providing a second cell output, wherein the first cell drive input and the second cell drive input are of equal magnitude and opposite sign.

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.

An electrolytic device comprising a housing includes at least first and second adjacent liquid flow-through channels. A barrier impermeable to ion flow and to bulk liquid flow is disposed between the first and second channels. A first electrode assembly is disposed adjacent to one end of the channels and a second electrode assembly is disposed adjacent the other end of the channels. Also, a contaminant removal method using the above electrolytic device. A first aqueous stream including contaminants flows through the first channel while passing a current between the first and second electrode assemblies to remove contaminants. Effluent from the first channel flows, with or without further treatment, through the second channel while passing current between said first and second electrode assemblies to remove further contaminants.

A sandwich suppressor in an ion chromatography system in which loosely packed ion exchange resin of low density is disposed in the central sample stream flow channel. Also, a method of using the suppressor is described.

An electrodialytic device for ion chromatography, including aspects functioning as an eluent suppressor device and aspects functioning as an eluent generator device. In general, the device includes a monolithic block of ionomeric polymer material having (1) a first channel with an inlet port, an outlet port, and an active length of exposed polymer material disposed therebetween, (2) a second channel having an inlet port, an outlet port, and an active length of exposed polymer material disposed therebetween, (3) a first and second at-least-partially exposed electrodes positioned in electrical communication with the second channel, with the second electrode disposed, at least in part, across the second channel from the first electrode. A current flowing between the electrodes will drive an electrodialytic migration of ions between the active lengths, from an eluent stream in the case of a suppression device or into an eluent stream in the case of a generator device.