Shimadzu HIC-ESP - Anion Suppressor Ion Chromatograph

Significance of the Topic

Ion chromatography with anion suppression is essential for trace-level anion analysis in environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical quality control, food safety, and chemical research. By reducing background conductivity and improving peak shape, modern suppressor systems enhance detection sensitivity and analytical reliability across diverse sample matrices.

Objectives and Study Overview

This document introduces the HIC-ESP, a next-generation anion suppressor ion chromatograph featuring the integrated ICDS-40A electrodialytic suppressor. The goal is to present its design innovations, performance characteristics, and workflow integration for high-precision anion determination.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The HIC-ESP employs an electrodialytic suppressor unit built into the column oven, which uses detector waste as regenerant and eliminates the need for external acids. The bent flow-path design and optimized dialysis membranes minimize internal volume and suppress peak dispersion. Temperature-controlled conductivity detection and online degassing ensure low noise and stable baselines even under prolonged operation.

Used Instrumentation

• HIC-ESP anion suppressor ion chromatograph
• ICDS-40A electrodialytic anion suppressor
• CDD-10AVP conductivity detector with temperature-regulated cell
• DGU-403 online degassing unit
• LC-20Ai inert-type solvent delivery pump
• CTO-40S forced-air circulation column oven
• SIL-20A/20AC autosampler with inert wetted parts
• Shim-pack IC-SA2 suppressor-type analytical column

Key Results and Discussion

The ICDS-40A achieves enhanced sensitivity for low-retention ions such as fluoride by narrowing the water dip and reducing peak spreading. Continuous injection of river water over 1,000 cycles showed stable peak areas, demonstrating suppressor robustness. Injection repeatability was excellent, with RSDs below 0.1% across volumes from 0.2 to 75 µL. The HIC-ESP’s low carryover and rapid injection cycle (down to 10 s) further boost throughput.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The integrated suppressor system reduces chemical waste and maintenance by using waste solution for regeneration. Its compact footprint (420 mm width) frees up valuable bench space. Combined with LabSolutions software, the HIC-ESP streamlines method development, sequence scheduling, data processing, and automated reporting, making it ideal for environmental water analysis (e.g., EPA 300.0), food quality testing, and clinical or industrial labs.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advances may focus on further miniaturization of suppressor units, integration with real-time monitoring and remote operation via IoT, and AI-driven data interpretation for rapid anomaly detection. Expanding the range of detectable analytes—such as emerging contaminants and complex matrices—will drive continued innovation in chromatographic suppression technology.

Conclusion

The HIC-ESP with its ICDS-40A suppressor delivers high-sensitivity, reliable anion analysis with low maintenance and efficient lab integration. Its performance and compact design address current demands in environmental, food, pharmaceutical, and chemical testing, while its software ecosystem enhances workflow efficiency.