A simplified ion exchange bead-based KOH electrodialytic generator for capillary ion chromatography.

A simple potassium hydroxide electrodialytic generator (EDG) with singe membrane configuration is described. In this setup, one cation exchange resin (CER) bead is used to fabricate the EDG in place of the common membrane sheet. The device is implemented simply in a commercial stainless steel (SS) Tee which serves as both the EDG cartridge and the cathodic electrode. The present EDG has much lower internal volume (approximately 0.16(L), which is well suited with capillary ion chromatography system. The device has been tested up pressures to 3200 psi and could be directly deployed on the high-pressure side of the pump. The electrolysis gas can be effectively removed by a segment of PTFE tubing. In the tested range of 0-100mM, the KOH concentration is generated linearly with the applied current being near-Faradaic efficiency. The device permits both isocratic and gradient operation with good reproducibility, as demonstrated by the analysis of anions.