CATIONS: IC columns used without chemical suppression

The Nucleosil 5SA IC cation column utilizes sulfonic acid groups for the separation of the cations. With eluents containing organic acids or ethylene diamine, this column can separate divalent cations such as magnesium, calcium and amines as well as some of the transition metal elements (e.g. nickel, zinc, cobalt, manganese). This means that the Nucleosil 5SA is a favorably-priced and robust separating column for the determination of the transition metals by direct conductivity measurement without postcolumn derivatization. Calcium and magnesium can be reliably determined in the presence of large concentrations of the alkali metals. The column is only suitable for divalent cations because monovalent cations elute at almost the same time as the injection peak.