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.

An ion suppressor includes ion exchange membranes between a pair of electrodes. Regeneration liquid channels are provided in the spaces between the electrodes and the ion exchange membranes, and an eluent channel is provided between the ion exchange membranes. Ion re-exchange in the eluent on the downstream side of the eluent channel is suppressed, thereby making it possible to improve the detection sensitivity for the ion to be measured. For example, the eluent channel has a folded structure, thereby increasing the amount of current on the downstream side of the eluent channel, and thus, the accumulation of ions is suppressed, and accordingly, ion re-exchange in the eluent can be suppressed.

An apparatus for detecting analytes in a liquid sample may include an elongated primary channel through which an ionic species flows, the primary channel extending through a primary channel member, a first regenerant channel through which a regenerant flows, the first regenerant channel extending adjacent to the primary channel and being formed in a first block, a first charged barrier having exchangeable ions capable of passing ions of only one charge, positive or negative, and of blocking bulk liquid flow, the first charged barrier disposed between the primary channel member and the first block for separating the primary channel from the first regenerant channel, and a first sealing member disposed between the first charged barrier and the first block defining the first regenerant channel.

An ion chromatography analysis system includes a system monitoring part being configured to detect an abnormality, to determine, based on a fluctuation rate in a certain time of the predetermined state of a most recent of the monitor value, whether the fluctuation is a short-term fluctuation that occurs in a short term or a long-term fluctuation that occurs in a long term, and to identify a cause of the abnormality by using whether the fluctuation is the short-term fluctuation or the long-term fluctuation.

Disclosed herein are scientific instrument support systems, as well as related methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media. For example, in some embodiments, a scientific instrument support apparatus includes chromatogram logic to calculate the square of a retention time and a peak width variance for each of a plurality of peaks in a chromatogram; plate calculation logic to calculate an expected plate number and an observed plate number; and suppressor status logic to determine a suppressor status based on a ratio of the observed plate number to the expected plate number (O/E ratio) and to display the status.

Systems and methods for inhibiting translocation of ions across ion exchange barriers include an eluent generator having an ion source reservoir with a first electrode, an eluent generation chamber with a second electrode, an ion exchange barrier disposed therebetween, and means for reversing the polarity of a voltage or current applied across the first and second electrodes. A first polarity voltage or current applied across the electrodes generates an electric field that promotes translocation of eluent counter ions from the reservoir across the barrier, where the counter ions combine with eluent ions electrolytically generated in the chamber. By reversing the polarity of the voltage or current across the electrodes, the resulting electric field inhibits translocation of counter ions across the barrier from the reservoir into the chamber. Reverse voltage or current bias reduces counter ion concentration in the resting chamber to prevent exhaustion of ion suppressor capacity during start up.

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 detecting analytes in a liquid sample may include an elongated primary channel through which an ionic species flows, the primary channel extending through a primary channel member, a first regenerant channel through which a regenerant flows, the first regenerant channel extending adjacent to the primary channel and being formed in a first block, a first charged barrier having exchangeable ions capable of passing ions of only one charge, positive or negative, and of blocking bulk liquid flow, the first charged barrier disposed between the primary channel member and the first block for separating the primary channel from the first regenerant channel, and a first sealing member disposed between the first charged barrier and the first block defining the first regenerant channel.