For more than 45 years, Thermo Scientific¢ Dionex¢ IC systems have enabled extraordinary breakthroughs and discoveries in applied and life sciences. IC is a physical-chemical separation method, which is based on the partition of an analyte between a liquid mobile phase and a solid stationary phase. No matter what the ion analysis need is, simple or challenging, few samples or a heavy load, the Thermo Scientific¢ Dionex¢ IC systems offer a wide range of solutions that will address your needs.
An IC system includes the instrument, consumables, and User Interface (UI) software Chromeleon. In this article, we will take a closer look at one of these major blocks of an IC system, the IC Instrument.
In 1975, Dionex¢ introduced the instrument that started it all, Model 10. Fast-forwarding to today and many IC instrument advancements over the period resulting in innovations in increased accuracy, more automation, low signal detection, and higher/faster throughput performance. The Thermo Scientific¢ Dionex¢ IC instrument is comprised of several precision instruments that are responsible for maintaining such performance. The pump must provide a constant flow rate which is vital for the performance of the IC system. With an increased need for faster analysis and/or resolution, High-Pressure Ion Chromatography (HPIC¢) capability was introduced in the Dionex¢ ICS-6000 and Integrion, and remains to be the only systems available today to reaching such pressure levels. Achieving such high-pressure limits require cutting-edge engineering, advanced material science knowledge, and specialized algorithms, especially when considering the chemical inertness of the liquid path. Another vital block in an HPIC instrument is temperature control. Precision temperature control of the analyzed fluid/sample is another critical part of the instrument. The temperature control includes passive and active stabilization of the fluid temperature as well as the temperature control of different parts of the system to achieve the detection stability performance. Dionex¢ electrolytic consumables like the suppressors and Eluent-Generator Cartridge (EGC) requires precision power. These precision power supplies are responsible for maintaining low background noise as well as control eluent concentration for Reagent Free Ion Chromatography (RFIC) invented by Dionex¢.
There are several blocks that are vital for the performance of an IC instrument of which what was discussed in this blog post, precision flow control, precision temperature control, and precision power supplies. The Thermo Scientific¢ Dionex¢ HPIC instruments have earned a leadership position in analytical analysis due to the innovative solutions they offer enabling our users to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer.