Just add water to generate eluent
Thermo Scientific Dionex ion chromatography products continue to be innovative and incorporate an expanding set of capabilities to increase the power of ion analysis. Advances in eluent generation and electrolytic suppression technologies are enabling a wider variety of applications and increased productivity. Our reagent-free IC (RFIC) systems with eluent generation (RFIC-EG) combine automated eluent generators and electrolytically regenerated suppressors to electrolytically create the required eluents and regenerants used for IC applications. Plumb in a clean source of deionized water, and the RFIC-EG system takes care of the rest.
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What is RFIC-EG?
Systems with reagent-free IC eluent generation (RFIC-EG) automatically generate high-purity hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate, or methanesulfonic acid (MSA) eluents electrolytically using Thermo Scientific Dionex EGC Eluent Generator Cartridges. All that’s needed on an RFIC-EG system is a high-purity source of deionized water. The system will automatically generate eluent at the concentration you indicate for use in isocratic or gradient methods. This means that gradient analyses can be accomplished using an isocratic pump. Eluent is purified inline using a Thermo Scientific Dionex CR-TC Continuously Regenerated Trap Column, and suppressed electrolytically before detection without the need to prepare regenerants.
Eluent generation
Choose the consistency and labor savings you need
Since the advent of ion chromatography, eluent choice has been one of the key factors affecting the usability and performance of IC systems. Today, there is probably a standard eluent for your application, but you still have a lot of choices that affect usability. Download our white paper to learn about some of the considerations when choosing how to prepare your eluent and watch our educational video to discover the benefits of automated eluent generation.
What systems have RFIC-EG capabilities?
- RFIC-EG capabilities are integrated in the Thermo Scientific Dionex ICS-6000 HPIC system, Thermo Scientific Dionex Integrion HPIC system, and Thermo Scientific Dionex Inuvion with RFIC system.
- Thermo Scientific Chromeleon Chromatography Data System (CDS) is required to control RFIC-EG system operations.
What are the advantages of RFIC-EG?
Most apparently, RFIC-EG saves time and labor. However, generating eluent electrolytically also makes IC simpler, more powerful, and more reliable. Compared to manual eluent preparation, RFIC-EG provides superior results by preventing baseline shift, increasing sensitivity, improving resolution, and ensuring consistent peak integration. Eliminates manual preparation of eluents or regenerants
- Eliminates errors and variability from manual eluent preparation
- Saves time
- Reduces operator exposure to hazardous chemicals
- Improves analytical consistency and reproducibility, day-to-day, system-to-system, lab-to-lab
- Eliminates start-up or equilibration time
- Provides uniform, highly stable eluent concentrations
- Generates highly reproducible results, with little variability in peak retention times or areas
- Reduces the need for calibration
- Verify system performance quickly just by running a check standard.
- Enables gradient separation with an isocratic pump
- Uses only 15mL water/day translates into 5.2L water/year
- Reduces pump maintenance; pump is only exposed to only deionized (DI) water
How does RFIC-EG work?
Inside the Thermo Scientific Dionex EGC III KOH Eluent Generator cartridge
The Dionex EGC III KOH consists of a KOH generation chamber and a K+ electrolyte reservoir connected by a cation exchange connector. A high-pressure connector permits the passage of K+ ions from the K+ electrolyte reservoir into the electrolytic chamber.
RFIC-EG system schematic
With a Dionex EGC installed, just add water to electrolytically produce high-purity hydroxide, carbonate, or methanesulfonic acid eluents for isocratic and gradient runs. Eluents are purified online using the Dionex CR-TC Continuously Regenerated Trap Columns. This line of trap columns removes contaminants, thereby eliminating trace ionic impurities, such as carbonate, from the eluent stream. The traps eliminate the need for off-line cleanup procedures. The Dionex CR-ATC and Dionex CR-CTC trap columns are for removing anionic and cationic contaminants, respectively. Eluents are suppressed electrolytically just prior to detection, thereby eliminating the need to prepare regenerants.
What eluent generator cartridges are available?
| What Thermo Scientific Dionex EGC Eluent Generator Cartridges to Use | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Anions | Cations | ||
| Gradient or Isocratic Hydroxide EG | Isocratic Carbonate EG | Isocratic Carbonate/ Bicarbonate EG | Gradient or Isocratic MSA EG | |
| Dionex Inuvion with RFIC | Dionex EGC 500 KOH | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 + EPM 500 | Dionex EGC 500 MSA |
| Dionex Integrion | Dionex EGC 500 KOH or EGC III KOH, NaOH+, LiOH+ | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 + EPM 500 | Dionex EGC 500 MSA or EGC III MSA Cartridge |
| Dionex ICS-6000 | Dionex EGC 500 KOH or EGC III KOH, NaOH+, LiOH+ | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 | Dionex EGC 500 K2CO3 + EPM 500 | Dionex ECG 500 MSA or EGC III MSA Cartridge |