The Metrosep C3 – 250 is a robust cation column that uses a unique carrier based on a polyvinylalcohol material. The column shows excellent performance with standard cations and improved peak separation with monovalent and bivalent cations.
The relevant column parameter is referred to as the number of theoretical plates per meter (TP/m). The Metrosep C3 – 250 reaches 42'000 TP/m for sodium, 51'000 for ammonium and 31'000 for barium, which elutes rather late. The peak shapes obtained with this cation column are perfectly symmetrical and – compared to the silicate carrier material – the separation between sodium and ammonium is significantly improved.
The Metrosep C3's excellent selectivity also allows for the separation of transition metals. As the Metrohm ion chromatographs generally determine cations without chemical suppression, the Metrosep C3 – 250 permits determination of the transition metals together with the alkali and alkaline earth metals.