Electrolytic eluent generators with stabilized operating voltages
AssigneeDionex Corporation
InventorsZhongqing LU, Yan LIU, Christopher A. POHL, Jinhua CHEN, Jun CHENG
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Abstract
An electrolytic eluent generator includes an electrolyte reservoir, an eluent generation chamber, and an ion exchange membrane stack. The electrolyte reservoir includes a chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution including an electrolyte; and a first electrode. The eluent generation chamber including a second electrode. The ion exchange connector includes an ion exchange membrane stack, and a compression block.
Claims20
An electrolytic eluent generator for adding a generant to a liquid to produce an eluent for use in a chromatography column, comprising:
- an electrolyte reservoir including:
- a chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution;
- and
- a first electrode;
- an eluent generation chamber including a second electrode, an inlet coupled to a liquid source, and an outlet coupled to a separation column;
- and
- an ion exchange connector including:
- an ion exchange membrane stack;
- and
- a fluid interface structure disposed between the electrolyte reservoir and the ion exchange membrane stack,
- wherein the fluid interface structure comprises a polymeric material having a hydrophilic surface configured to reduce adhesion of gas bubbles generated during operation and to maintain fluid contact between the aqueous electrolyte solution and the ion exchange membrane stack.
A method for adding a generant to a liquid to produce an eluent for use in a chromatography column, comprising:
- providing an aqueous electrolyte solution to an electrolyte reservoir, the electrolyte reservoir coupled to an eluent generation chamber by an ion exchange connector including an ion exchange membrane stack and a fluid interface structure disposed between the electrolyte reservoir and the ion exchange membrane stack, the fluid interface structure comprising a polymeric material having a hydrophilic surface;
- applying a current or voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode;
- electrolytically splitting water to form a hydroxide anion or a hydronium ion;
- and
- migrating an ion from the aqueous electrolyte solution through the ion exchange membrane stack to combine with the hydroxide anion or the hydronium ion to form the eluent,
- wherein gas bubbles generated in the electrolyte reservoir are inhibited from adhering to the hydrophilic surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.