Installation Instruction for ProfIC Vario 6 AnCat

Importance of the topic

The determination of major anions and cations in samples with high particle loads is critical for environmental monitoring, process control and quality assurance. Inline sample conditioning minimizes manual handling and protects chromatographic columns from fouling, enabling reliable, high throughput analysis.

Objectives and study overview

This bulletin details the installation, configuration and performance evaluation of the ProfIC Vario 6 AnCat system, which combines inline dilution, ultrafiltration and parallel ion chromatography for automatic determination of anions and cations at elevated concentrations.

Methodology

The workflow integrates:

• Inline dilution to adjust sample concentration and reduce matrix effects
• Ultrafiltration to remove particulates and microbes prior to injection
• Parallel analysis channels for simultaneous anion and cation determination
• MagIC Net software control for device configuration, method execution, calibration and data evaluation

Used instrumentation

The system comprises:

• 940 Professional IC Vario with two conductivity detectors for separate anion and cation channels
• 858 Professional Sample Processor equipped with a Liquid Handling Station for automated dilution and rinsing
• 800 Dosino modules for precise dispensing of ultrapure water, standards and acidification reagents
• MSM suppressor and inline ultrafiltration cell with dedicated manifolds
• Metrosep A Supp 15 and C 4 separation columns
• MagIC Net 3.1 software suite for hardware integration and method management

Main results and discussion

Analytical performance was assessed using mixed standard solutions:

• Anion calibration over 1 to 20 mg/L yielded correlation coefficients above 0.9999 and relative standard deviations below 1.3%
• Cation calibration from 0.2 to 10 mg/L showed correlation coefficients above 0.9998 and RSDs below 2.3%
• Ten replicate injections of a 2 mg/L anion standard and a 10 mg/L cation standard produced RSDs typically below 1%
• Complete separation of seven anions was achieved within 10 minutes; six cations separated within 9 minutes

Benefits and practical applications

The fully automated parallel approach provides:

• Higher sample throughput by simultaneous measurement of anions and cations
• Reduced risk of cross contamination and manual errors
• Effective handling of turbid or particle-rich samples
• Adaptability for environmental analysis, pharmaceutical QA/QC, and industrial process monitoring

Future trends and potential applications

Potential developments include:

• Integration of automated eluent generation modules for continuous operation
• Software enhancements for self-optimizing flow paths and sensor settings
• Coupling with mass spectrometry or spectroscopic detectors for comprehensive ionic profiling
• Miniaturized flow cells and microfluidic applications for field-deployable systems

Conclusion

The ProfIC Vario 6 AnCat system delivers reliable, high-precision parallel analysis of anions and cations with minimal manual intervention. Its inline conditioning capabilities and flexible software control make it an attractive solution for modern analytical laboratories seeking robust sample handling and fast turnaround times.