IC – Frequently Asked Questions

All connections between the injector, column, and detector must be as short as possible and absolutely leak-proof. Furthermore, they should have the smallest possible dead volume. We recommend PEEK capillaries with an inner diameter of 0.25 mm for these connections. The PEEK capillary downstream of the detector block must not have any constrictions (the measuring cell is designed for a backpressure of up to 5 MPa = 50 bar). In order to ensure an optimum backpressure, it must not be shortened.

Always use only ultrapure water (Grade I, 18.2 MOhm at 25°C) for eluents, dilutions, and all other solutions that will be used for IC.

Eluents must always be prepared with analytical grade chemicals (i.e., with at least purity grade "p.a." or "analytical grade").

Freshly prepared eluents must always be microfiltered (0.45 µm filter) and then degassed with N₂, He, or in a vacuum or with an inline degasser. If possible, a CO₂ absorber should be used for basic eluents and eluents with a low buffer capacity.

Prepare the eluents with degassed and CO₂-free ultrapure water. Dissolved CO₂ can affect the pH and thus also the retention times.

Basic eluents can absorb CO₂ from ambient air, which alters their pH value. This affects the retention times. Adsorption of CO₂ can be prevented with a CO₂ adsorber.

You can prepare your own standard solutions from the appropriate salts or you can buy them directly from a chemicals supplier.

Please check that the pH value of the solutions is suitable for the respective separation columns. Standards and reagents especially for ion chromatography can be found for example here

The tubes of a peristaltic pump are a consumable with a limited service life and should be replaced at regular intervals (approximately every 2 months if used continuously).

There are two different positions for attaching the tube. The position should be changed once a month.
The pressure of the tubing cartridge must not be too high: Increase the pressure incrementally until you can see that the liquid is flowing. Then increase the pressure with the contact pressure lever by a further two increments.

Use 3-stopper pump tubings with a longer service life: 6.1826.3X0 and 6.1826.4X0.

Inline Filters must be used for regeneration and rinsing solutions and must be replaced every three months or if the backpressure is too high.

The 800 Dosino is a universal tool for Liquid Handling. It can be used not only for simple transfer of solutions, but also for dosing quantities with a µL accuracy. Typical applications include sample transfer, MSM regeneration, rinsing, eluent preparation, Dose-in Gradient, and accurate sample dosing for sample preparation techniques such as MiPT, MiPCT, MIDT, etc.

If Liquid Handling of the sample solution is carried out with a 800 Dosino, care must be taken to prevent any sample from entering the cylinder of the dosing unit. This is achieved by installing a transfer tubing with an appropriate volume upstream of the 800 Dosino and using only ultrapure water as the transfer solution.

If the 800 Dosino is only used to fill the sample loop, it must be placed downstream of the injector so that the sample is aspirated through the sample loop. This avoids the risk of any carryover.

If the method specifies a Dosino or a device that is connected to a Dosino, a query appears as to whether the Dosino should also be added to the method.

If the answer is yes, the name and use will be queried.

If you select "Suppressor Dosino", the Dosino can be used exclusively for "Dosino Regeneration". In this case, the Dosino is labeled in the diagram with an "S".

If you add a 941 Eluent Production Module, then you can define the Dosinos connected to it as "Eluent Dosinos". "Eluent Dosinos" are labeled with an "E".

Dosinos without a label ("S" or "E") are freely available for Liquid Handling tasks and are always selected as simple Dosinos.

If a Dosino is already defined in a method, it cannot be redefined. In this case, you must remove the Dosino from the method and then add it again as a new device. After you have defined the MSB connector, you can select its use.

No, "Eluent Dosinos" as well as "Suppressor Dosinos" in a particular method can only be used for eluent preparation or suppression, respectively. If the same Dosino is used in another method, its task can be freely defined again in the method.

The dosing units available for the 800 Dosino have volumes of 2 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL, 20 mL, and 50 mL. Since the 800 Dosino doses the total volume in 10,000 increments, the unit with the smallest possible volume should generally be used to obtain the highest possible accuracy.

We recommend the following:

• Eluent preparation: 50 mL dosing unit
• MIDT: 10 mL dosing unit
• MiPCT, MiPCT-ME: 5 mL dosing unit
• MiPuT, MiPT, suppressor regeneration: 2 mL dosing unit

Dismantle the dosing unit as described in the manual for the "807 Dosing Unit" and clean the parts with ultrapure water. If a dosing unit is not being used, rinse it with ultrapure water and drain it.

> Video: How to clean the dosing unit

iColumns are intelligent Metrohm IC separation columns. They are equipped with a column head that is fitted with a microchip. The head is used to secure the column to the appropriate holder in the IC instrument.

The system immediately reads out all the column information, such as type, dimensions, number of injections, date of first use, etc.

The columns may only be used in the flow direction.

A guard column should always be used. This must be replaced at regular intervals (in the case of a Metrosep RP 2 Guard, only the filter and the frit may need to be replaced).

To increase the service life of a separation column, check, e.g., the quality of the chemicals used, the water, and sample preparation (e.g., filtered or dialyzed samples).

The analytical quality attainable with Metrohm IC chiefly depends on the separation of the ions of interest on the deployed column.

When buying an IC column, you should make sure that it provides sufficient separation for the intended analytical samples. You can assess this using the reference chromatograms in the Column Catalog.

If problems should occur during your analyses, the first step is always to check the quality of the column and record a standard chromatogram. Compare the data on the column leaflet, e.g., retention factors, selectivity, number of plates, and resolution, with your own measurements.

Further information on handling IC separation columns is given in the brochures supplied with the column, in the Column Catalog, or in our column finder.

> Column Finder

To protect the column against foreign particles that could affect the separating efficiency, we recommend microfiltration of the eluents (0.45 µm filter) and aspiration through the aspiration filter.

Contaminants caused by abraded particles from the piston seals of the high-pressure pump can be avoided by fitting an Inline Filter between the pump and the injection valve.

You can use easily replaceable guard columns to protect the actual separation column and greatly extend its service life.

Samples must be free of particles before they are injected. We recommend filtering all sample solutions through a 0.45 µm filter. Furthermore, Metrohm Inline Ultrafiltration or Dialysis can also protect the column against unwanted components in the sample.

Separation columns that are not being used must always be sealed and filled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions before being stored. If there is no information available, the separation column should be stored in a refrigerator at 4–8°C

If the separation properties of the separation column have greatly deteriorated, it can be regenerated in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. The regeneration conditions for columns supplied by Metrohm are given in the accompanying column leaflet or in the Column Catalog.

The separation column should be regenerated only if rinsing with a strong eluent does not improve the separation properties.

Because PTFE capillaries are soft, do not tighten the screws too much. If the capillaries are nonetheless pinched, cut off the first few millimeters with a capillary cutter.

Do not operate the suppressor in a dry condition!

If the background conductivity is too high, check the flow rates of the regeneration solution and the rinsing solution.

To prevent contamination of the Suppressor Module by foreign particles and bacterial growth, it is necessary to install the 2 µm Inline Filter (6.2821.120) contained in the scope of delivery between the peristaltic pump and the inlet capillaries of the Suppressor Module.

The Metrohm Suppressor Module (MSM) has 3 suppressor compartments that are in turn used for suppression, are regenerated or are rinsed. To ensure that each new chromatogram is recorded under comparable conditions, every analysis is carried out with a freshly regenerated suppressor compartment. The change-over from one suppressor compartment to the next is carried out automatically between the chromatograms.

Operation of the Suppressor Module requires a peristaltic pump or a Dosino (Dosino Regeneration) to transport the regeneration solution to the suppressor compartment. In the usual STREAM process, the detector effluent is used to rinse the regenerated suppressor compartment. Alternatively, ultrapure water can also be used as the rinsing medium (via a Dosino or a peristaltic pump).

The suppressor should always be regenerated against the eluent flow direction. Therefore, you must install the suppressor in accordance with the labeling on the connecting piece.

The Metrohm Suppressor Module must never be switched over when dry because it may jam.

The capacity of the suppressor compartments depends on the eluent and flow rate and is exhausted after about 1–2 hours or even earlier. If there are extended pauses between the individual measurements, we recommend using the Autostep function of MagIC Net that automatically changes over the MSM, e.g., at intervals of 10 min.

The original method of regenerating the MSM is based on feeding the regenerating solution using a peristaltic pump. It is also possible to use a Dosino that is specially reserved for this purpose.

Dosino Regeneration uses a defined volume of regeneration solution for each procedure. This allows control of the volume and prevents it running empty.

The Metrohm CO₂ Suppressor (MCS) requires CO₂-free air. This means that the aspirated ambient air has to be precleaned using a CO₂ adsorption cartridge. The CO₂ adsorption cartridge must be replaced when approx. three quarters of the material has turned a violet color or at least once per year.

No, harmful indicators are not used.

There are a number of possible reasons for a pressure increase in the system. First of all, find out the location of the pressure increase. The best way to do this is to remove one system component at a time from the flow path, starting from the eluent outlet, and check the measured pressure difference. The component causing the pressure increase must then be serviced or replaced. Typical components that can cause a high backpressure are:

• The Inline Filter (6.2821.120): The filter disk (6.2821.130) can be replaced.

• The guard column: Replace the guard column.

• The separation column: Regenerate the separation column according to the column leaflet (should be carried out only if the separation or peak shapes are affected as well). Note: Separation columns should always be operated with a guard column. Samples should always be microfiltered.

• The injector: If the increased backpressure is caused by the injector, you should have it cleaned by a Metrohm Service technician.

There is a leak in the system. Please check all connections.

Baseline drift is mainly found in systems that have not yet reached equilibrium. The system requires further conditioning. If the drift continues, check the thermal stability (Is the thermostat/oven working correctly? Are there external disturbances such as exposure to sunlight or a draft?). It can also be caused by a leakage in the system. Check that no connections are leaking.

Increased baseline noise can be caused by various components:

• The eluent is not sufficiently degassed: Make sure that the connectors of the eluent degasser are tightly connected.

• The eluent path has a leak: Check the connections.

• The high-pressure pump has contaminated valves: Clean or replace the pump valves.

• The high-pressure pump has defective piston seals: Replace the piston seals and, if necessary, the pistons.

• The pulsation absorber is not connected or is defective: Connect or replace the pulsation absorber.

• MCS – The CO₂ cartridge is exhausted: Replace the CO₂ cartridge.

• MCS – The vacuum pump is faulty: Please contact Metrohm Service.

Undersized peak areas often indicate that the sample quantity is too small.

• There is a leak in the sample path: Check the sample path.

• The sample path is blocked: Check whether the sample is flowing during filling of the sample loop. If the sample flow rate is too low or zero, check the settings and then look for the blockage in the sample path and remove it.

• The sample loop is not completely filled: Adjust the transfer time.

• There are gas bubbles in the sample: Use the sample degasser.

• The MCS (CO₂ suppressor) is not connected: Connect the MCS and check the CO₂ cartridge.

• The high-pressure pump has contaminated valves: Clean or replace the pump valves.

• The high-pressure pump has defective piston seals: Replace the piston seals and, if necessary, the pistons.

The background conductivity is defined by the eluents and the suppression reaction. This means that the eluent composition may be incorrect or suppression is incomplete. If suppression is used, make sure that the suppressors (MSM and MCS, if present) are connected correctly. Check the flow of the regeneration solution and the rinsing solution.

This means that the eluent flow rate is not constant. Possible reasons for this are

• A leak in the eluent path: Eliminate the leak.

• A blockage in the eluent path: Eliminate the blockage.

• Gas bubbles in the eluent: Degas the eluent and check the connectors of the eluent degasser.

• The high-pressure pump has contaminated valves: Clean or replace the pump valves.

• The high-pressure pump has defective piston seals: Replace the piston seals and, if necessary, the pistons.

The sample has been contaminated before the sample was injected. Check the sampling procedure and the cleanliness of the sample vessels.
Carry-over from the previous sample has occurred. Increase the rinsing and transfer times.

One reason for peak broadening is additional dead volume. This can occur if the capillary connections are not optimal and with old separation columns. Check the connections. If the dead volume is in the column head, the separation column can be operated for a certain time in the opposite direction (provided that this is permitted according to the column leaflet), otherwise the separation column must be replaced.

A further reason could be contamination of the guard column and/or the separation column. Replace the guard column. If the separation column is contaminated, regeneration (according to the column leaflet) may help. Otherwise, the separation column must also be replaced.

• Gas bubbles in the eluent: Degas the eluent and check the connectors of the eluent degasser.

• The injector is defective: Check the installation of the sample loop. If the injector is defective, please contact Metrohm Service.

• The sample loop is not completely filled: The transfer and rinsing times must be adjusted.

• The vacuum in the MCS (CO₂ suppressor) is insufficient: Check the connectors. If these are OK, please contact Metrohm Service.

A multimedia guide "IC Maintenance" is available. It combines video sequences and animated illustrations. The corresponding DVD is supplied with every Metrohm IC instrument. The most current version is available online or can be obtained free of charge from your Metrohm representative. The multimedia guide is available in German, English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

The multimedia guide "IC Maintenance" shows all maintenance work that can be carried out without the aid of a Service technician. Furthermore, the brochure "Short instructions for the maintenance of your Metrohm ion chromatograph" (8.000.5068) is also available.

Detailed information on the maintenance work described below is given in the manual for your instrument.

Aspiration filter: The aspiration filter should be replaced if it is discolored or at least every three months. Contaminated aspiration filters can lead to pressure and baseline fluctuations.

IC pump: The piston, seals, and valves should be serviced at least once a year.

Inline Filter: The Inline Filter should be replaced if the backpressure increases or at least every three months.

Pulsation absorber: Maintenance is not possible. Defective pulsation absorbers must be replaced.

6-way injection valve: If there are problems with the precision, check the installation of the sample loop. More extensive maintenance should be carried out by a service technician.

Suppressor (MSM, MSM-LC, MSM-HC): If the capacity drops or a high backpressure builds up, the Suppressor Module must be regenerated, cleaned, or replaced.

Detector block (conductivity detector): A blocked inlet capillary can be shortened by a few millimeters. Backflushing with the high-pressure pump may also help. Caution: The pressure must be < 5 MPa. The detector block must not be opened under any circumstances.

Detector cell (amperometric detection): The working electrode can be cleaned and polished as described in the manual. The reference electrodes are maintenance-free. The Ag/AgCl reference electrode must be replaced at regular intervals.

Metrohm offers service agreements tailored to your requirements. These range from standard maintenance with a priority response time to full support with an all-inclusive package and a guaranteed response time.

All Metrohm Service technicians must undergo extensive service training and are certified by specially qualified trainers. Metrohm Service technicians have a corresponding service pass that is valid for two years.