Ion Chromatography

Created by Monica Z. Bruckner, Montana State University

What is Ion Chromatography?

Ion chromatography is used for water chemistry analysis. Ion chromatographs are able to
measure concentrations of major anions, such as fluoride, chloride, nitrate, nitrite, and
sulfate, as well as major cations such as lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, calcium,
and magnesium in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range. Concentrations of organic acids can
also be measured through ion chromatography.

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How Does Ion Chromatography Work?

Ion chromatography, a form of liquid chromatography, measures concentrations of ionic

species by separating them based on their interaction with a resin. Ionic species separate
differently depending on species type and size. Sample solutions pass through a pressurized
chromatographic column where ions are absorbed by column constituents. As an ion
extraction liquid, known as eluent, runs through the column, the absorbed ions begin
separating from the column. The retention time of different species determines the ionic
concentrations in the sample.

Applications
Some typical applications of ion chromatography include:
• Drinking water analysis
for pollution and other
constituents
• Determination of water
chemistries in aquatic ecosystems
• Determination of sugar
and salt content in foods
• Isolation of select proteins

How to - Sample Collection,

Preparation and Concerns

Liquid Samples:
Liquid samples should be filtered prior to
evaluation with an ion chromatograph to
remove sediment and other particulate
matter as well as to limit the potential for
microbial alteration before the sample is run.
Aqueous samples should be collected using a
sterile syringe or bottle rinsed three times
with sample water and then filtered through
0.45um (or smaller) filters. The collection vial
should likewise be rinsed three times with
filtrate before being filled brim-full of sample
filtrate. Samples should be stored cold until
they can be processed. The minimum sample
required for analysis is approximately 5mL,
with no maximum limits.

Solid samples and Organic Liquids

Solid samples can be extracted with water or
acid (cations) to remove ions from the
sample surface. Liquid samples must also be
filtered and stored cold until analysis can be
performed. The minimum sample required for
a solid sample is approximately 2-3 cm2 for
solids, with no maximum limits.
Data Output and Analysis

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The diagram on the upper left shows how an
ion chromatograph works to output data.
Each peak represents a separate ion from the
sample solution. The elution time, or time it
takes for the ion to move through the
 column, varies for each ion species as they
elute from the column separately as the pH
and/or ionic strength of the eluent is
increased. The concentration of ions moving
through the column at a particular time is
represented by the height and the breadth of
the peaks and can be correlated to the
concentration of a particular species in the
sample solution.

The graphs on the upper right display typical

data output from an ion chromatography run.
The upper graph shows cation concentrations
and the lower graph depicts anion
concentrations from dilute glacial waters. Ion
concentrations can be calculated using the
area under each peak, where a larger area
correlates with a higher concentration of a
particular ion species. Most ion
chromatography machines provide software
that calculates this area, which users can
convert to ppm or other quantity using
calibration standard solutions.

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Ion Chromatography for Electronic Assemblies & Bare
Boards

Ion Chromatography is a test for ionic cleanliness that was adapted for the electronics manufacturing

industry by Foresite's president, Terry Munson. Working with the IPC, Terry has helped develop TM

650.2.3.28 - Ion Chromatography test method for Ionic Cleanliness. During ion chromatography testing,

various ionic species such as chloride, bromide, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate or weak organic acids are

separated into columns based on the speed by which they travel through a liquid eluent. Foresite has

worked with electronics manufacturers for 15 years using ion chromatography to determine contaminants

that are present on electronic assemblies and bare boards. Such contaminants, when mixed with moisture

and an applied voltage, often contribute to electrochemical failures. Ion chromatography is the means by

which to determine what contaminants are present.

Foresite uses the expertise we have gained through working with over 1000 clients to help our customers

figure out what steps in their process are contributing to contamination. One of the primary sources of

contamination is fluxes when they are not fully complexed. You can read much more about Foresite's

applications of ion chromatography and the common sources of contamination in our resources section.

You will find many case studies and published articles dealing with product reliability issues here.
In addition to ion

chromatography testing,

Foresite recommends

that its customers

practice ongoing process

monitoring on the

manufacturing floor in

order to catch

contamination concerns

before they become

costly field failures or

create a need to send

samples off to a lab. We

offer a tool to accomplish

this called the C3. Click

here to learn more about

the C3 and its

applications for

electronics

manufacturers.

Articles by Foresite about Ion Chromatography in

Electronics Manufacturing

The Failure of a Circuit

This article discusses the various failure mechanisms that are
cause regularly by harmful ionic contaminants reacting with
moisture and an applied voltage.
>>Read Full Article: The Failure of a Circuit
Process Residues Cause Field Performance Problems
This is a look into how severe the consequences of ionic
contamination can be to product performance. A study was
done to show how ion chromatography results correlate to those
of SIR, but ROSE testing shows no correlation to neither ion
chromatography or SIR testing.
>>Read Full Article: Process Residues Cause Field Performance
Problems

How Clean is Clean?

A study that examines how Ion Chromatography with C3
localized extraction correlates well with product performance
while ROSE testing can overlook pockets of contamination.
>>Read Full Article: How Clean is Clean?