Installation Instruction for ProfIC Vario 2 Anion

Significance of the Topic

Ion chromatography with sequential suppression and inline ultrafiltration is vital for routine quantification of common anions in environmental and industrial samples due to its high throughput, accuracy and low contamination risk.

Objectives and Overview of the Article

This bulletin describes the installation and configuration of the ProfIC Vario 2 Anion system for fully automated determination of anions. It covers software setup, hardware assembly, system purging, method loading and example measurements.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

The workflow integrates inline ultrafiltration upstream of a Metrosep A Supp 15 column followed by sequential suppression. Key components include

• 940 Professional IC Vario equipped with conductivity detector and suppressor
• 858 Professional Sample Processor with swing head for sample pickup and optional inline ultrafiltration cell
• Metrohm Inline Ultrafiltration cell with PVDF pressure screws and capillaries for sample and filtrate paths
• MagIC Net software for instrument control, method management and data evaluation
• Optional Liquid Handling Station for automated needle rinsing and dilution
• Optional Eluent Production Module for on demand eluent preparation

Main Results and Discussion

An anion standard mixture containing fluoride, chloride, nitrite, bromide, nitrate, sulfate and phosphate was used for performance assessment. Within 1 to 20 mgL concentration range a quadratic calibration yielded correlation coefficients above 0.99985 and relative standard deviations below 1.3. Ten replicate injections of 2 mgL standards showed repeatability better than 1 relative percent. Representative elution order confirmed faster sulfate elution ahead of phosphate on the Metrosep A Supp 15 column.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The ProfIC Vario 2 Anion system delivers reliable baseline stability and precise retention times through integrated software guided purge and equilibration steps. Inline ultrafiltration eliminates manual sample preparation and protects the column from particulates. The modular design allows easy adaptation for various anion analyses in water quality monitoring, food safety, pharmaceutical QC and environmental screening.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advances may include tighter integration of sample preparation modules, miniaturized suppressors, green eluent generation, and AI based method optimization. Online coupling with real time data analytics and remote monitoring will further enhance laboratory productivity and sustainability.

Conclusion

The Application Bulletin 365 provides a comprehensive guideline for setup and operation of a high performance IC system for anion analysis. Adherence to installation steps and method configuration in MagIC Net ensures consistent results and minimal downtime.

References

Metrohm Application Bulletin 365 Installation Instruction for ProfIC Vario 2 Anion