Superb Performance IonQuest Ion Chromatography

The completely new Ion Chromatography system from Cecil Instruments – IonQuest – is a top performance modular system.

The conductivity cell of the conductivity detector,  is enclosed with a heat exchanger in a precisely thermostatted enclosure. The temperature of the enclosure is controlled to better than ±0.01ºC. The working temperature may be set by the analyst to be between 25ºC and 50ºC and set with a default value of 35ºC during production testing.

Modular Flexibility

The system is easy to use by control panel operation, or by using the sophisticated Cecil PowerStream software for data acquisition, processing and reporting. Full system control is also provided by the workstation equipped with PowerStream.

The modularity of the system enables its configuration to be changed with ease, for instance for use with a UV/Visible detector. Modules may readily be replaced, to reduce down-time, should the need arise.

The system is easy to use by control panel operation, or by using the sophisticated Cecil PowerStream software for data acquisition, processing and reporting. Full system control is also provided by the workstation equipped with PowerStream. The modularity of the system enables its configuration to be changed with ease, for instance to use a UV/Visible detector. Modules may readily be replaced, to reduce down-time, should the need arise.

Pulse Free Pump

Mobile phase pumping is provided by a dual piston, digitally controlled, pump . Electronic feedback control virtually eliminates pulsing without using mechanical damping.

Column Oven

The very precisely temperature controlled oven accommodates Anion and Cation columns and precolumns, as well as a background suppressor cartridge with its over pressure protection valve. Close coupling to the detector provides high stability, low noise and low dispersion.

Leak Detector

A specially designed leak detection system is accommodated within the cell oven enclosure. The detection system may be used to shutdown the system if a leak is detected in the enclosure.

PowerStream Software

This software, developed by Cecil Instruments, provides system control and superb data processing, manipulation and reporting with truly unrivalled ease.

 Detector – Advanced Design

The CE 4710 Conductivity Detector is an entirely new design from Cecil Instruments providing performance of the very highest order due to its exceptionally low noise and unrivalled baseline stability. To achieve this standard of performance a very low volume, 0.5µL, conductivity cell has been designed and is operated in a precisely thermostatted aluminium oven enclosure. A specially designed, low dispersion, heat exchanger, is also mounted in the cell enclosure preceding the detector cell. The exchanger stabilises the temperature of the mobile phase entering the cell. With the enclosed system controlled to better than ±0.01ºC superb performance is always available. Autozero and auto-range facilities are provided to ensure convenience of operation. Built-in diagnostics aids instrument evaluation and fault finding. The temperature controlled cell and heat exchanger enclosure is conveniently accessed from the side of the detector module, as shown in the photograph.

Detector Features

·                                 Full control by PowerStream software workstation

·                                 Keypad and LCD interface, for local operation, when required

·                                 Large memory for analytical methods

·                                 Autozero for operator convenience

·                                 Operator selectable cell temperature; default 35ºC

·                                 Leak detection system shutdown. Important for unattended operation.

·                                 Self diagnostics to confirm instrument function

·                                 Mounting facility for Rheodyne injection valve

·                                 Calculation of detector cell constant not required

·                                 Polarity switching

Sensitivity for the measurement of anions is greatly improved by reducing the conductivity of the eluent post column. An optional Anion Membrane Suppressor - SAMS ™ - is available which is mounted in the column oven, in series with and after the analytical column. The suppressor may be used continuously and is regenerated by a Continuous Anion Regeneration System - CARS ™ - , which pumps the regeneration fluid through the post column suppressor cartridge. The suppressed solvent background conductivity leads to reduced drift and noise and therefore higher sensitivity for measurements is available.

Close coupling of the detector to the oven is important in eliminating the effects of ambient temperature fluctuation on results. The couplers can be seen on the side of the detector. The cell compartment thermostatted enclosure is shown in the lower photograph, with the side cover removed for easy access.

Precision Temperature Control

Chemically Suppressed Solvent Background

Pump-Proven Performance

The Cecil CE 4100 dual piston solvent delivery pump is well established as very reliable, convenient to use, with a very high performance specification. The microprocessor controlled pump uses a precise stepping motor drive for the dual overlapping pistons which deliver solvent with very little pulsing.

Electronic feedback is used to control the pump speed during its cycle to reduce pulsing to a negligible level. No further mechanical pulse damping is required. Delivery of mobile phase in the range 0.2 – 2.5mL per minute, the usually used range, is well within the ability of the pump, which delivers in the range 0.001mL/min to 10mL/min. The wetted components of the pump are, sapphire, ruby and ceramic inserts.

   The Total I C Concept

·                       Dual overlapping piston pump

·                                 Microprocessor control for low pulsing

·                                 Chemically inert flow-path

·                                 Precisely thermostatted cell

·                                 Low dispersion heat exchanger

·                                 Dual column oven

·                                 Leak detection 

·                                 PowerStream data processing

·                                 PowerStream system control

·                                 In line vacuum degassing

·                                 Regenerative chemical suppression

·                                 IC using a conductivity detector

·                                 Suppressor cartridge in oven

·                                 Modular flexibility

Convenient Column Oven

It is important that the separation columns should operate at a constant temperature, matching the temperature of the measuring cell. The CE 4601C column oven module is a very convenient front opening design accommodating two analytical columns and precolumns and also, when needed, a mobile phase background conductivity suppressor cartridge and its over-pressure protection valve.

The oven operates over the range from ambient temperature +5ºC to 85ºC. The default temperature is set at 35ºC.

The actual and set temperatures are displayed by a bright LCD display and may be controlled by the adjacent keypad, or set by the PowerStream software. Temperature stability is better than ±0.01ºC.

The flow tubes from the columns and suppressor cartridge enter and leave the oven enclosure through convenient self-sealing ports. The output port to the cell thermostatted enclosure lines up with the input connector of the enclosure, when the modular system is arranged as shown in the photographs of the system.

The very close coupling to the detector cell leaves only about 2 centimetres of tube between the oven and the cell. With the cell and oven operated at the same temperature, say 35ºC, drift or noise due to ambient fluctuations is eliminated.

A column switching valve may be fitted to the oven offering convenient operation.