What is Ion Chromatography?

Ion chromatography (IC) is an analytical technique used to separate ions and polar molecules based on their affinity to an ion exchanger. It is widely used for determining the concentration of major anions and cations in various samples, including water, food, and pharmaceuticals. It can also be used for the analysis of other charged species, such as amino acids and proteins. The technique involves passing a liquid sample through a column containing a resin that has a specific charge. Ions with an opposite charge to the resin are retained, while ions with the same charge pass through. The retained ions are then eluted from the column using a mobile phase with an increasing ionic strength, and detected using conductivity or other detectors.