Metrohm’s new microbore columns have decisive advantages:

Better mass sensitivity

Assuming identical sample amounts, microbore-based separations show a better mass sensitivity (peak hights and peak areas) than standard bore separations.

Less eluent consumption

Changing from a 4.0 to a 2.0 i.d. column will reduce eluent consumption to about a quarter. This is highly favorable for the operation of ion chromatographs in nuclear power plants that run round the clock and where incoming and outgoing goods pass laborious inspections and should therefore be minimised.

Smaller sample amounts

Small diameter columns provide an increased absolute mass sensitivity and are mainly used for clinical, pharmaceutical, toxicological and environmental samples with limited sample amounts. By reducing the column diameter to half, a four-fold decrease in column volume and thus a lower flow rate is achieved.

Better hyphenation

The challenge in coupling IC to MS consists in adjusting the generally higher column flow rate to the required flow rate for the ion source of the MS. Due to their reduced flow rate, microbore columns can be directly interfaced with online electrospray mass spectrometers.

Less impact on the environment

Due to reduced eluent consumption and the smaller amounts of samples required, microbore-based IC leaves a smaller footprint on the environment.