Abstract: An electrolytic eluent generator includes an electrolyte reservoir and at least one eluent generation cartridge. The electrolyte reservoir includes a chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution; and a first electrode. The at least one eluent generation cartridge includes a platinum mesh electrode; a polymer screen; a plurality of reinforced membranes; a membrane washer; and a spacer including a central post and an annular projection.

Abstract: An integrated system for liquid separation and electrospray ionization includes an emitter-enabled capillary column including an emitter portion and a column portion; and a retractable protective sleeve for covering and/or supporting the emitter portion along at least a portion of its axis. The protective sleeve is mounted around the emitter-enabled capillary column. The retractable protective sleeve is moveable to an extended position wherein a tip of the emitter portion is covered by the protective sleeve. A resilient member is provided to bias the protective sleeve towards the extended position. The protective sleeve is enclosed and moveable within an outer electrically conductive sheath adapted for insertion within a holder having a high-voltage contact point. The sheath is adapted to contact the high-voltage contact point and provide an electrical connection to enable the emitter-enabled capillary column to receive a high voltage. The sheath has a recess to receive the high-voltage contact point.

Abstract: An extraction cell cap assembly allows for toolless disassembly. The assembly includes a cap body having a threaded base releasably engaged with a cell vessel, a support member extending axially upward from the base, and a bore axially extending through the support member. The assembly also includes a locking cap having a plunger slidably received within the bore, a recess disposed within the plunger, and a locking portion that releasably engages the support member. Rotation of the locking cap in a first direction engages the locking portion with the support member, and rotation in an opposite direction disengages the locking portion. A filter is received in the recess and a seal member received in the bore, wherein the seal member forms a fluid-tight seal between the cell vessel and the assembly when the locking portion and the support member are engaged and the assembly is secured to the cell vessel.

Abstract: An integrated system for liquid separation and electrospray ionization includes an emitter-enabled capillary column including an emitter portion and a column portion; and a retractable protective sleeve for covering and/or supporting the emitter portion along at least a portion of its axis. The protective sleeve is mounted around the emitter-enabled capillary column. The retractable protective sleeve is moveable to an extended position wherein a tip of the emitter portion is covered by the protective sleeve. A resilient member is provided to bias the protective sleeve towards the extended position. The protective sleeve is enclosed and moveable within an outer electrically conductive sheath adapted for insertion within a holder having a high-voltage contact point. The sheath is adapted to contact the high-voltage contact point and provide an electrical connection to enable the emitter-enabled capillary column to receive a high voltage. The sheath has a recess to receive the high-voltage contact point.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inhibiting translocation of ions across ion exchange barriers include an eluent generator having an ion source reservoir with a first electrode, an eluent generation chamber with a second electrode, an ion exchange barrier disposed therebetween, and means for reversing the polarity of a voltage or current applied across the first and second electrodes. A first polarity voltage or current applied across the electrodes generates an electric field that promotes translocation of eluent counter ions from the reservoir across the barrier, where the counter ions combine with eluent ions electrolytically generated in the chamber. By reversing the polarity of the voltage or current across the electrodes, the resulting electric field inhibits translocation of counter ions across the barrier from the reservoir into the chamber. Reverse voltage or current bias reduces counter ion concentration in the resting chamber to prevent exhaustion of ion suppressor capacity during start up.

Abstract: A vial cap for removing a matrix component from a liquid sample is described. The vial cap includes a cap body, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The cap body is configured to have a slidable gas and liquid seal with a side wall of a sample vial. The inlet portion includes a counterbore section that holds a filter plug. The filter plug includes a polyethylene resin and a material selected from the group consisting of an ion exchange material and a reversed-phase material. The vial cap is adapted for solid phase extraction for use in an autosampler with a plurality of sample vials.

Abstract: Systems and methods for concentrating an analyte preparatory to analysis thereof include processing the effluent of an analyte concentrator to produce an eluent for eluting an analyte retained in the same or separate concentrator, and systems implementing the same. The analyte concentrator system connects the effluent outlet of an analyte concentrator column to an eluent generation module such that the substantially analyte-free effluent discharged from the analyte concentrator column passes fluidly into the eluent generation module. Eluent generated from the substantially analyte-free effluent in the eluent generation module is likewise substantially free of the analyte. The systems and methods can minimize and/or (substantially) eliminate background signal during analysis of the concentrated analyte.

Abstract: A coated substrate that comprises a polyolefin substrate having a functional polymer layer disposed thereon. The polyolefin substrate has a flow through pore structure with a pore size ranging from about 5 microns to about 250 microns. The functional polymer layer has a thickness ranging from about 1 micron to about 20 microns and a layer pore structure having a pore size ranging from about 1 nm to about 100 nm.

Abstract: A system for self-regulating a suppressor includes an ion chromatography suppressor, a power supply for applying an electric potential to the suppressor, and a control unit configured to provide an offset voltage VOS and an applied voltage VA to the suppressor, measure a current of the suppressor responsive to the offset and applied voltages VOS and VA, determine a suppressor state of the suppressor based upon the measured current, and adjust the offset voltage VOS based upon the suppressor state. A method for self-regulating a suppressor is also disclosed.

Abstract: An anion exchange for separating a plurality of carbohydrates includes a negatively charged substrate particle. A base polymer layer includes a first plurality of quaternary amines. The polyalkylpolyamine polymer layer is covalently attached to the base condensation polymer layer. The polyalkylpolyamine polymer layer includes a polymeric branch structure that includes a second plurality of quaternary amines. A density of the second plurality of quaternary amines increases in a direction away from the base condensation polymer layer. The anion exchange stationary phase does not have a hydroxy group spaced apart from any one of the first or the second plurality of quaternary amines by an ethyl group.

Abstract: A method of separating a liquid sample containing viral vectors includes flowing the liquid sample into an anion exchange column. A first viral vector contains a targeted genetic material and a second viral vector contains essentially no genetic material or a non-targeted genetic material, wherein the targeted genetic material is different than the non-targeted genetic material. A mobile phase can be flowed into the anion exchange column, wherein the mobile phase includes a buffer solution A and a buffer solution B. The buffer solutions A and B both include volatile buffer salts. The first viral vector and the second viral vector can be separated so that the first viral vector and the second viral vector elute off the anion exchange column at different times and then be detected.

Abstract: A chromatographic material including a substrate having a surface and having a polymeric layer covalently bound to the surface; the polymeric layer comprising polymer molecules covalently attached to the surface of the substrate, each polymer molecule being attached to the surface via multiple siloxane bonds and each polymer molecule being connected to one or more functionalizing compounds that each comprise a functional group, wherein the polymeric layer is formed by covalently attaching polymer molecules to the surface of the substrate via multiple siloxane bonds, each polymer molecule containing multiple first reactive groups, and reacting the first reactive groups of the attached polymer molecules with at least one functionalizing compound that comprises a second reactive group that is reactive with the first reactive groups and that further comprises a functional group. Preferred conditions of reacting the polymer with the substrate include elevated temperature and reduced pressure.

Abstract: The eluent used in IC separation contains non-volatile salt which is not compatible with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). A suppressor is required to convert the non-volatile salt into water or the volatile acid form (i.e. acetic acid). When the suppressor fails, the non-volatile salts will enter the MS and cause extensive shutdown and maintenance of the mass spectrometer. The suppressor voltage derivative is used to evaluate the most common suppressor failure modes, including disruption of regenerant flow and excessive backpressure on the suppressor due to clogging in the downstream, and to trigger the eluent pump to stop the eluent flow or to trigger the auxiliary valve to switch the flow to the mass spectrometer from eluent to water.

Abstract: A sampling needle is provided for piercing a septum of a vial containing a sample and aspirating the sample from the vial. The needle may include: a tubular core having a lumen extending therethrough and a piercing end, wherein the tubular core is formed of a bioinert material; a hollow support encircling the tubular core with the piercing end extending outwardly from the support, wherein the support is formed of a rigid material; and a bioinert coating covering a portion of the support adjacent the piercing end, wherein the tubular core and the covering isolates the support from the sample.

Abstract: An electrospray emitter assembly for interfacing a separation column to a mass spectrometer is disclosed. An emitter capillary includes an inlet end and an outlet end. A fitting is coupled to the inlet end of the emitter, configured to be removably connected to the separation column. A stop with a defined through hole is integrated proximate the inlet end of the emitter to produce a path for liquid to flow from the separation column to the emitter via the through hole where a voltage is applied to the liquid entering the emitter.

Abstract: A method of separating analytes in a liquid sample includes flowing the liquid sample through a chromatography column configured for use in liquid chromatography. The chromatography column contains a composition that includes a solid support having an exterior surface, a ligand, and a linker. The ligand includes a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane moiety. The linker is covalently bound to both the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane moiety and the exterior surface of the solid support.

Abstract: A chromatography system includes an electrolytic eluent generator; a first valve configured to switch between an operating position which directs an output of the electrolytic eluent generator to a continuously generated trap column and a waste position which directs the output of the electrolytic eluent generator to waste; the continuously regenerated trap column; a degasser; a sample injector including a sample injector valve assembly, the sample injector valve assembly configured to switch between an operation mode which directs an output of the degasser to a separation column, a load mode which loads a sample onto the separation column, and a regenerant mode which directs the output of the degasser to a regenerant line; the separation column; a suppressor; and a detector.

Abstract: An extraction cell cap assembly allows for toolless disassembly. The assembly includes a cap body having a threaded base releasably engaged with a cell vessel, a support member extending axially upward from the base, and a bore axially extending through the support member. The assembly also includes a locking cap having a plunger slidably received within the bore, a recess disposed within the plunger, and a locking portion that releasably engages the support member. Rotation of the locking cap in a first direction engages the locking portion with the support member, and rotation in an opposite direction disengages the locking portion. A filter is received in the recess and a seal member received in the bore, wherein the seal member forms a fluid-tight seal between the cell vessel and the assembly when the locking portion and the support member are engaged and the assembly is secured to the cell vessel.

Abstract: A system for self-regulating a suppressor includes an ion chromatography suppressor, a power supply for applying an electric potential to the suppressor, and a control unit configured to provide an offset voltage Vos and an applied voltage VA to the suppressor, measure a current of the suppressor responsive to the offset and applied voltages VOS and VA, determine a suppressor state of the suppressor based upon the measured current, and adjust the offset voltage Vos based upon the suppressor state. A method for self-regulating a suppressor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for self-directed computer system validation includes first logic to provide a graphical user interface to enable a user to select a set of selected requirements from a plurality of available requirements; second logic to select a set of procedures to satisfy the need to test against each of the requirements and document evidence of the outcomes and generate a set of documents for installing and configuring the system and test protocols including all methods and objects needed to validate the system; and third logic to provide the set of documents for installing and configuring the system and test protocols including all methods and objects needed to validate the system.