Electrolytic Device Noise Reduction and Lifetime Improvement Using Modulated Driver

An ion chromatography system comprising:

• a pump configured to receive a liquid under process from a source and to provide force to push the liquid under process through the ion chromatography system;
• an eluent generator downstream of the pump and configured to add an eluent to the liquid under process;
• a continuously regenerated trap column downstream of the eluent generator and configured to remove contaminants from the liquid under process;
• a sample inject downstream of the continuously regenerated trap column and configured receive a test sample and mix the test sample into the liquid under process;
• a separation column downstream of the sample inject and configured to separate one or more components from one or more test analytes of the liquid under process;
• an electrolytic suppressor system comprising;
• a signal generator electrically coupled to a power supply and configured to modulate a current from the power supply;
• and
• an electrolytic suppressor configured to receive the liquid under process from the separation column and to suppress eluent conductivity in the one or more test analytes of the liquid under process, the electrolytic suppressor electrically coupled to the signal generator and configured to use the modulated current for power;
• and
• a detector configured to receive the liquid under process from the electrolytic suppressor and to detect one or more characteristics of the liquid under process.

A method of operating an ion chromatography system, the method comprising:

• receiving a liquid under process at a pump;
• pumping the liquid under process through the system;
• adding, by an eluent generator, an eluent to the liquid under process;
• removing, by a continuously regenerated trap column, contaminants from the liquid under process;
• receiving, at a sample inject, a test sample into the liquid under process;
• separating, by a separation column, one or more components from one or more test analytes in the liquid under process;
• modulating at a predetermined frequency, by a signal generator, a current received from a power supply;
• powering one or more components in the ion chromatography system with the modulated current;
• suppressing, by the electrolytic suppressor, eluent conductivity of the one or more test analytes in the liquid under process;
• and
• detecting, by a conductivity detector, one or more characteristics in the liquid under process.