Advances in High-Speed and High-Resolution Ion Chromatography

Compared to modern high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC), separation speeds in ion chromatography (IC) have lagged behind. In recent years, dramatic strides have been made by the development of PEEK flow components, eluent generators and membrane suppressors with increased pressure and lower volumes, smaller particle size packings that permit shorter columns and higher flow rates, and capillary columns with higher efficiencies. Here, we review these developments and show examples of faster IC separations. For simple systems, separation speeds rival those of modern LC. For complex samples, separation times are still slow, but the use of 2D techniques allows more rapid analysis of complex samples in high ionic-strength matrices.