High‑Capacity Anion Exchange IC Column (Broad Range, pH 0–14)
CromSil™ IonX-300B is a high-capacity anion exchange column engineered for ion chromatography separation of a broad spectrum of inorganic anions. Built on a macroporous polystyrene-divinylbenzene (PS/DVB) substrate functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups, this column delivers high-efficiency separations and excellent peak resolution for targets ranging from fluoride to sulfate. IonX-300B is optimized for use with carbonate or hydroxide eluents (in suppressed IC systems) and exhibits outstanding chemical stability from pH 0 to 14. The column’s robust polymeric bed and metal-free PEEK hardware ensure compatibility with aggressive conditions and organic solvent tolerance for enhanced method flexibility. Whether you’re analyzing trace contaminants in drinking water or high concentrations of anions in industrial samples, CromSil™ IonX-300B offers reproducible performance and long service life, making it a trusted workhorse for diverse anion analysis needs.
Unlike silica-based HPLC columns, the polymeric IonX-300B has no silica to dissolve, so it remains stable even at extreme pH values (from strongly acidic to strongly basic). This gives analysts the freedom to use aggressive mobile phase conditions or cleaning protocols (e.g. 0.1 M HCl or NaOH washes) to remove contaminants, extending column life. The column’s compatibility with up to 100% aqueous or organic modifier also allows organic solvent cleaning or solvent-rich samples to be processed, which is useful for removing hydrophobic residues or for coupling with methods that require an organic cosolvent.
The high efficiency of IonX-300B is evidenced by its sharp peak shapes and the ability to resolve closely eluting species. For example, it can distinctly separate common anions like fluoride, chloride, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate, as well as more challenging oxyhalides like chlorite, bromate, and chlorate in a single run. This capability aligns with regulatory methods (such as U.S. EPA Method 300.0 Part B for drinking water) that require simultaneous determination of these analytes. To maintain such performance over time, IonX-300B can be paired with a dedicated guard cartridge that traps particulates and organics before they reach the analytical column, thus preserving the column’s integrity and efficiency. This guard, housed in a PEEK holder, is a simple and cost-effective way to prolong the column’s lifespan without sacrificing performance.
|
Parameter
|
Description/Value
|
|---|---|
|
Column Chemistry
|
Strong Anion Exchange on Macroporous PS/DVB Polymer – functionalized with alkyl quaternary ammonium groups for broad anion retention. • Dimensions: Standard format is 250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, packed in a durable PEEK column hardware (completely metal-free). This dimension provides ample resolving power for multi-component separations; shorter lengths (if available) can be used for faster analyses with some trade-off in resolution.
|
|
Dimensions
|
Standard format is 250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, packed in a durable PEEK column hardware (completely metal-free). This dimension provides ample resolving power for multi-component separations; shorter lengths (if available) can be used for faster analyses with some trade-off in resolution.
|
|
Particle Size
|
~9 µm polymer beads (highly cross-linked). Provides high plate counts and efficient mass transfer for sharp peaks. The uniform, medium-sized particles balance between resolution and practical backpressure.
|
|
Exchange Capacity
|
High capacity resin design – suitable for suppressed IC methods handling both trace (μg/L) and major (mg/L) anions. The column can load a significant amount of ionic sample without overload, ensuring linear responses over a wide concentration range.
|
|
pH Range
|
0 – 14 (full spectrum). Tolerant to strongly acidic and strongly basic conditions. You can run acidic eluents or basic regenerants and also perform aggressive cleaning (e.g. acid soak to remove metal deposits or base flush to remove organic fouling) without damaging the column chemistry.
|
|
Organic Solvent Compatibility
|
Fully compatible with common organic modifiers (e.g. methanol, acetonitrile) in the mobile phase or for cleaning. (Recommended up to ~20% organic in eluent for method development if needed; 100% organic for short-term cleaning is acceptable.) This allows methods that require organic cosolvents or that need removal of hydrophobic substances.
|
|
Maximum Pressure
|
Rated for typical HPLC backpressures – up to 5000 psi (~350 bar) is supported, although normal operating pressure for a 250×4.6 mm IC column is much lower (under 3000 psi) depending on flow rate and temperature. The PEEK hardware and frits are engineered to withstand these pressures while remaining inert.
|
|
Temperature Range
|
10 – 60 °C (typical). Elevated temperatures (e.g. 30–40 °C) can be used to speed up equilibrations or difficult separations, but the column maintains stability and efficiency even at ambient lab conditions.
|
|
Hardware Features
|
PEEK column body and endfittings to ensure no metal interaction with sample (critical for anion analysis, as metals could bind anions like phosphate or introduce contaminants). The column comes with standard HPLC threaded end fittings compatible with all modern IC systems.
|
|
Guard Column
|
Optional Guard Cartridges (PEEK) available (CromSil Guard for IonX-300B) – an inline short cartridge (typically 50 mm length) with identical chemistry to protect the main column. Strongly recommended for dirty or high-particulate samples; easily replaceable to save the analytical column from damage.
|
Broad Anion Range Coverage
Effectively separates common inorganic anions (F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₂⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, PO₄³⁻) plus challenging oxyhalides (ClO₂⁻, BrO₃⁻, ClO₃⁻) in one run. This broad capability makes IonX-300B a one-stop solution for environmental compliance testing and multi-analyte assays, eliminating the need for multiple columns.
High Efficiency & Resolution
The advanced polymer packing yields sharp peaks and excellent resolution, ensuring that even closely eluting ions are baseline-resolved. High plate counts translate to more accurate quantitation and the ability to detect minor components in the presence of major matrix ions.
Extreme pH Stability
Organic Solvent Tolerant
Unlike some ion exchange columns, IonX-300B tolerates organic solvents, which simplifies sample preparation and cleanup. You can introduce samples containing organic solvents or use solvent washes to purge organic fouling (like oil residues or humic substances from water samples). This compatibility enhances the column’s utility in diverse lab situations.
Robust Polymeric Construction
The PS/DVB base is chemically inert and physically strong, giving exceptional column lifetime. There is no silica to dissolve at high pH and no fragile coating – the result is a column that maintains performance over many more injections. Labs experience less frequent column replacements and more consistent results over time.
Reproducibility
Each IonX-300B column is quality-tested to ensure run-to-run and column-to-column consistency. The tightly controlled manufacturing leads to reproducible retention times and peak areas, critical for validated methods and routine QC analysis. You can trust that a new column will perform just like the last, which streamlines method validation and transfer.
High Capacity = Fewer Dilutions
The high exchange capacity resin can handle samples with higher ionic loads. This means analysts can inject samples with minimal dilution or pretreatment, saving time and preserving detection limits for trace components. Even samples with a high total dissolved solids (TDS) content can often be run directly, as the column won’t easily overload.
Metal-Free Hardware
Constructed with PEEK, the column introduces no metal ions or sites that could interact with analytes. This prevents unwanted secondary reactions (like anion adsorption on metal surfaces) and ensures peak shapes remain symmetric. It’s especially important for analytes like phosphate or iodide that are prone to metal chelation – IonX-300B keeps their recovery high and consistent.
Guard Protection for Longevity
The availability of a matching guard cartridge (inexpensive and easy to replace) means you can protect your investment. The guard traps sample particulates, organics, and strongly retained impurities before they foul the main column. Users report significantly extended column lifetimes and lower operating costs by using guard cartridges regularly.
Validated for Regulatory Methods
IonX-300B’s performance aligns with official methods (EPA 300.0/300.1, ISO 10304, etc.) where multi-anion analysis is required. Implementing this column in those methods is straightforward, and it often meets or exceeds the required resolution and sensitivity criteria, giving method developers and lab managers confidence in compliance.
The CromSil™ IonX-1 column serves a broad range of application areas where accurate anion analysis is required. Its adaptability and reliability make it suitable for the following segments:
Designed with environmental labs in mind, IonX-300B excels at analyzing drinking water, groundwater, and wastewater samples. It captures both primary anions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, etc.) and disinfection by-products like chlorite and bromate at regulatory limits. Laboratories monitoring EPA drinking water standards (Method 300.1) will find this column meets their needs for resolution and detection of contaminants. Additionally, its high capacity handles high-salinity samples (e.g. seawater or brines diluted) better than low-capacity columns, making it suitable for oceanographic analysis or industrial effluents.
IonX-300B can be applied in food industry labs for analyzing anions in beverages (soft drinks, mineral water) and food extracts. For instance, determining additives like phosphate in soft drinks, chloride in cheese or dairy products, or nitrate in cured meats. The column’s ability to deal with complex matrices (after appropriate sample prep) and separate a wide range of anions is beneficial for ensuring product safety and quality.
In pharmaceutical QC, IonX-300B helps in quantifying ionic counterions (e.g. chloride in drug substances, phosphate in buffer solutions) or residual inorganic impurities in APIs. Its broad pH tolerance is useful if acidic or basic eluents are needed to elute very strongly bound species, ensuring all ions of interest can be measured. In biochemical research, the column can separate small inorganic ions in formulations or biological fluids, supporting experiments that require ion balance measurements.
Industrial QC labs (for chemicals, petrochemicals, semiconductors water) can leverage IonX-300B for monitoring process streams and product purity. For example, power plants can use it to check anions in boiler feed water and steam condensate (tracing chloride or sulfate to prevent corrosion). The column’s resilience to harsh conditions means it can handle occasional off-spec samples or process upsets (with extreme pH or contamination) when other columns might fail.
The wide operating range and versatile nature of IonX-300B make it a great choice for method development in academic settings. Researchers exploring new detection techniques or separating novel ionic species can push the limits of pH or solvent with this column. Its reproducibility and known characteristics provide a dependable starting point for those developing new ion chromatography methods or comparing the efficacy of different eluents on separation behavior.
Control Your Separations Like Never Before.
Get periodic updates on promos and discounts as well as new products by subscribing to our email list.