Process and equipment to generate high purity eluent

Abstract

"PROCESS AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE HIGH PURITY ELUENT". The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus which are provided to generate a high purity carbonate eluent, suitable for use in chromatography. The high purity eluent can be generated by providing water and a first stationary phase comprising exchangeable cations. Electrolysis ions are generated by electrolysis of water. The electrolysis ions are selected from the group consisting of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions. The hydronium ions are passed through the first stationary phase, so that the hydronium ions replace the cations in the first stationary phase. Then, a source of desired ions is combined with the cations to form a high purity eluent containing the desired ions.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Process for generating an eluent comprising: a. providing water; b. providing a first stationary phase comprising exchangeable cations; c. generating electrolysis ions by electrolysis of water, wherein the electrolysis ions are selected from the group consisting of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions; d. draining the hydronium ions through the first stationary phase, so that the hydronium ions replace the cations in the first stationary phase; e. providing the source of carbonate ions; and f. combining the cations with the carbonate ions to form an eluent containing carbonate ions.

2. Process according to claim 1, further comprising combining the cations with hydroxide ions to form a sodium hydroxide solution prior to combining the cations with carbonate ions.

3. Process according to claim 2, in which the source of carbonate ions is a second stationary phase comprising carbonate ions.

4. Process according to claim 3, further comprising draining the cation hydroxide solution through the second stationary phase, such that the hydroxide ions replace the carbonate ions and the cations combine with the carbonate ions.

5. Process according to claim 1 or 2, in which the source of carbonate ions is aqueous carbonic acid.

6. Process according to claim 1, 2 or 5, in which the source of carbonate ions is provided by a process comprising: a. providing a second stationary phase comprising carbonate ions; b. generating electrolysis ions by water electrolysis, wherein the electrolysis ions are generated from the group consisting of hydronium ions and hydroxide ions; c. draining the hydroxide ions through the second stationary phase, so that the hydroxide ions replace the carbonate ions in the second stationary phase; and d. combining the carbonate ions with the hydronium ions.

7. Process, according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, further comprising separating the gases produced during the generation of ions 10 from the electrolysis of the cation hydroxide solution, after formation of the cation hydroxide solution.

8. Process, according to claim 5, further comprising draining the aqueous carbonic acid solution through the first stationary phase, simultaneously draining the hydronium ions through the first stationary phase 15.

9. A process, according to any of the preceding claims, in which the cation is selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, and lithium.

10. Apparatus for generating an eluent using the process as defined in any of the preceding claims.