3
– Operation
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 28 of 84
031956-11
For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
3.
Operation
This section provides instructions for the start-up and operation of the ERS series suppressors,
including the selection process and suppression modes of operation.
3.1
Chemical Purity Requirements
Precise and accurate results require eluents free of ionic impurities; chemicals and deionized
water used to prepare eluents must be pure as described below. Low trace impurities and low
particulate levels in eluents and regenerants also help protect the Dionex ERS 500 and system
components from contamination. Dionex ERS 500 performance is not guaranteed when the
quality of the chemicals and water used to prepare eluents has been compromised.
3.1.1
Inorganic Chemicals
Reagent Grade inorganic chemicals should always be used to prepare ionic eluents. Preferably,
a lot analysis on each label will certify each chemical as meeting or surpassing the latest
American Chemical Society standard for purity, a universally accepted standard for reagents.
3.1.2
Solvents
Since solvents used with the Dionex ERS 500e are added to ionic eluents to modify the ion
exchange process or improve sample solubility, the solvents used must be free of ionic
impurities. However, since most solvent manufacturers do not test for ionic impurities, the
highest grade of solvents available should be used. Currently, several manufacturers are making
ultra-high purity solvents that are compatible for HPLC and spectrophotometric applications.
These ultra-high purity solvents will usually ensure that your chromatography is not affected by
ionic impurities in the solvent. Dionex has obtained consistent results using High Purity
Solvents manufactured by Burdick and Jackson and Optima
®
Solvents by Thermo Fisher
Scientific.
3.1.3
Deionized Water
The deionized water used to prepare eluents should be degassed Type I Reagent Grade Water
with a specific resistance of 18.2 megohm-cm. The water used for the AutoSuppression
External Water Mode should have a specific resistance of 18.2 megohm-cm or greater. The
deionized water should be free of ionized impurities, organics, microorganisms and particulate
matter larger than 0.2 µm. It is good practice to filter eluents through a 0.2 µm filter whenever
possible. Bottled HPLC-Grade Water should not be used since most bottled water contains an
unacceptable level of ionic impurities. Finally, thoroughly degas all deionized water prior to
preparing any eluents or regenerants.
3.2
Start-up
The Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e or Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate is installed in the
column or detector chamber of the chromatography module right after the analytical column and
before the conductivity detector cell. On the Dionex ICS-5000
+
, the suppressor mounts on the
conductivity detector module in the DC. On the Dionex Integrion, the suppressor mounts on the
conductivity detector module in the detector compartment. On the Dionex Aquion, the
suppressor mounts on the component panel behind the front door. Refer to the Dionex IC
System Operator’s Manual for further details.
Orient the suppressor with the ELUENT IN port and the cable at the top if installed vertically;
align the slots on the back of the Dionex ERS 500 with the tabs on the panel. Press in, and then
