A four-electrode microconstant direct current resistance detector for ion chromatography applying ion-exchange membrane and porous electrode

A four-electrode microconstant direct current resistance detector for ion chromatography not sensitive to the effects of electrode polarization, capacitance, and electrolysis by-products is proposed. A constant current of microampere magnitude is applied across the current electrodes of the four-electrode device, and the voltage responses between the detection probes are directly picked up by a high input impedance instrumentation amplifier. The ion-exchange membranes, which separate the detection chamber from the electrolysis chambers, enable the measurement of solution resistance free of the interference of electrolysis by-products. Two resin beds in the detection chamber serve as ion conductors while reduce the dead volume of the detector. Recycled detection effluent supplies water for the electrolysis reactions at the current electrodes to sustain constant current in solution. The porous detection probes provide microchannel for the flowing solution while indicating signals. Owing to the constant current excitation, the electronics setup becomes simple. The cell configuration, operating principle, electronics, and error analysis of this detection mode are discussed along with their use for suppressed anion chromatography. Experimental data show that this four-electrode direct current detection mode is comparable to conventional two-electrode alternating current method.