Thermo Scientific Dionex ERS 500 User manual

For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
Dionex ERS 500 Suppressor
031956 Revision 11 •January 2017
User Manual

Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 2 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
Product Manual
for
Dionex Anion Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor 500
(Dionex AERS 500 (4 mm), Item # 082540)
(Dionex AERS 500 (2 mm), Item # 082541)
Dionex Cation Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor 500
(Dionex CERS 500 (4 mm), Item # 082542)
(Dionex CERS 500 (2 mm), Item # 082543)
Dionex Anion Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor 500e
(Dionex AERS 500e (4 mm), Item # 302661)
(Dionex AERS 500e (2 mm), Item # 302662)
Dionex Cation Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor 500e
(Dionex CERS 500e (4 mm), Item # 302663)(Dionex CERS 500e (2 mm), Item # 302664)
Dionex Anion Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor 500 for
Carbonate Eluents
(Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate (4 mm), Item # 085029)
(Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate (2 mm), Item # 085028)

Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 3 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
© 2017 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved.
MASTERFLEX C/L is a registered trademark of Barnant Company. All other trademarks are the property of
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. provides this document to its customers with a product purchase to use in the product
operation. This document is copyright protected and any reproduction of the whole or any part of this document is
strictly prohibited, except with the written authorization of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
The contents of this document are subject to change without notice. All technical information in this document is for
reference purposes only. System configurations and specifications in this document supersede all previous
information received by the purchaser.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. makes no representations that this document is complete, accurate or error free and
assumes no responsibility and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, damage or loss that might result from any
use of this document, even if the information in the document is followed properly.
This document is not part of any sales contract between Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and a purchaser. This
document shall in no way govern or modify any Terms and Conditions of Sale, which Terms and Conditions of Sale
shall govern all conflicting information between the two documents.
Revision History:
Revision 08, April 24, 2013, Rebranded for Thermo Scientific. Product name changed from Dionex SRS 300 to
Dionex ERS 500.
Revision 09, November, 2013, Updated External Water Mode flow rate recommendations, Updated hydration
procedure.
Revision 10, August, 2015, Added support for the Neutralization mode. Added support for Carbonate Eluents.
Revision 11, January, 2017, Updated the recommended suppressor hydration procedure. Edited for length and
clarity. Added Dionex ERS 500e product.

Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 4 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
Safety and Special Notices
Make sure you follow the precautionary statements presented in this guide. The safety and
other special notices appear in boxes.
Safety and special notices include the following:
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or
serious injury.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in damage to
equipment.
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or
moderate injury. Also used to identify a situation or practice that may seriously damage the
instrument, but will not cause injury.
Indicates information of general interest.
IMPORTANT
Highlights information necessary to prevent damage to software, loss of data, or invalid test
results; or might contain information that is critical for optimal performance of the system.
Tip
Highlights helpful information that can make a task easier.
SAFETY
!
WARNING
!
CAUTION
!
NOTE
!

Contents
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 5 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................8
1.1 Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor ....................................................................................9
1.2 Overview of Suppression and Neutralization Modes ................................................................15
1.2.1 Mode of Operation Selection.........................................................................................................16
1.2.2 The AutoSuppression Recycle Mode .............................................................................................16
1.2.3 The AutoSuppression External Water Mode ..................................................................................17
1.2.4 The Chemical Suppression Mode ..................................................................................................17
1.2.5 The MPIC Suppression Mode........................................................................................................17
1.2.6 The Neutralization Mode...............................................................................................................18
1.3 Shipment and Storage..............................................................................................................19
1.3.1 Shipment ......................................................................................................................................19
1.3.2 Storage .........................................................................................................................................19
2. Installation.........................................................................................................................20
2.1 System Requirements ..............................................................................................................20
2.2 Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor Control......................................................................22
2.2.1 Dionex Reagent-Free Controller (Dionex RFC) .............................................................................23
2.3 Dionex SCC-10 Suppressor current controller (Item # 074053)................................................23
2.4 Back Pressure Coils for the Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e and
Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate...................................................................................................24
2.4.1 Assembly......................................................................................................................................24
2.5 Gas Separator Waste Tube for the Dionex ERS 500 .................................................................25
2.5.1 Assembly......................................................................................................................................25
2.6 Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor Current Selection.......................................................25
2.6.1 Calculating the Optimum Current Setting ......................................................................................25
3. Operation...........................................................................................................................28
3.1 Chemical Purity Requirements.................................................................................................28
3.1.1 Inorganic Chemicals......................................................................................................................28
3.1.2 Solvents........................................................................................................................................28
3.1.3 Deionized Water ...........................................................................................................................28
3.2 Start-up....................................................................................................................................28
3.2.1 Hydration......................................................................................................................................29
3.2.2 Back Pressure Coil Pressure Test...................................................................................................30
3.2.3 Quick Back Pressure Check...........................................................................................................30
3.3 Plumbing for the AutoSuppression Recycle Mode Operation ...................................................31
3.3.1 Eluent Flow Path Connections in the AutoSuppression Recycle Mode ...........................................32
3.3.2 Regenerant Flow Path Connections in the AutoSuppression Recycle Mode....................................32
3.3.3 Installation in Thermal Chamber ...................................................................................................32
3.4 Plumbing for the AutoSuppression External Water Mode Operation ........................................34
3.4.1 Eluent Flow Path Connections for the AutoSuppression External Water Mode...............................35
3.4.2 Regenerant Flow Path Connections in the AutoSuppression External Water Mode.........................35

Contents
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 6 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
3.4.3 Regenerant Flow Path Connections in the AutoSuppression External Water Mode
with Peristaltic Pump ....................................................................................................................36
3.4.4 Installation in Thermal Chamber ...................................................................................................37
3.4.5 Dionex SRD-10 Suppressor Regenerant Detector...........................................................................37
3.5 Plumbing for Chemical Suppression Mode Operation ..............................................................37
3.6 Plumbing for MPIC Suppression Mode of Operation ...............................................................37
3.6.1 Eluent Flow Path Connections in MPIC Suppression Mode ...........................................................38
3.6.2 Regenerant Flow Path Connections in MPIC Suppression Mode
Using Pressurized Water Delivery System .....................................................................................38
3.6.3 MPIC Suppression Mode Operation ..............................................................................................38
3.7 Plumbing for Neutralization Mode Operation...........................................................................40
3.7.1 Sample Liquid Line Connections for Dionex ERS 500e in Neutralization Mode.............................41
3.7.2 Regenerant Liquid Line Connections for Dionex ERS 500e in Neutralization Mode.......................41
3.7.3 Pump Trap Column Installation and Regeneration .........................................................................41
3.7.4 Neutralization Mode Operation .....................................................................................................42
3.8 Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e or Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate Storage..........................43
3.8.1 Short Term Storage (3 to 7 days)...................................................................................................43
3.8.2 Long Term Storage (More than 7 days) .........................................................................................43
4. Example Neutralizer Mode Applications..........................................................................44
4.1 System Blank...........................................................................................................................44
4.1.1 Anion System Blank .....................................................................................................................44
4.1.2 Cation System Blank.....................................................................................................................44
4.2 Dionex CERS 500e Conditioning.............................................................................................45
4.3 System Calibration ..................................................................................................................45
4.3.1 Analysis of Acid Samples Containing High Concentrations of Transition Metals............................45
4.4 Recovery Data for Trace Anions in 25% Sodium Hydroxide....................................................46
4.5 Recovery Data for Trace Cations in 24% Sulfuric Acid............................................................46
4.6 Anion Example Applications ...................................................................................................47
4.6.1 Dionex IonPac®AS11 Gradient.....................................................................................................47
4.6.2 Dionex IonPac AS11 Gradient Analysis of 10% Sodium Hydroxide...............................................48
4.6.3 Dionex IonPac AS12A Isocratic Analysis of 25% Sodium Hydroxide............................................50
4.6.4 Dionex IonPac AS12A Isocratic Analysis of 20% Ammonium Hydroxide......................................52
4.6.5 Dionex IonPac AS12A Isocratic Analysis of 25% Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide....................53
4.6.6 IonPac AS12A Isocratic Analysis of 25% Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide...................................54
4.7 Cation Example Applications...................................................................................................55
4.7.1 Dionex IonPac CS12A Blank and Standard Analysis .....................................................................55
4.7.2 Dionex IonPac CS12A Analysis of 24% Sulfuric Acid...................................................................56
4.7.3 Dionex IonPac CS12A Analysis of 25% Acetic Acid.....................................................................57
4.7.4 Dionex IonPac CS12A Analysis of 10% Hydrofluoric Acid...........................................................58
4.7.5 Dionex IonPac CS12A Analysis of 22% Phosphoric Acid..............................................................59
5. Troubleshooting Guide......................................................................................................60
5.1 Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor Operational Status Displays Alarm State....................60
5.2 Small or Increasing Analyte Peak Areas...................................................................................61

Contents
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 7 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
5.2.1 Suppressor Chemical Regeneration Steps ......................................................................................61
5.2.2 Suppressor Electrolytic Regeneration Steps...................................................................................62
5.2.3 Full or Extended Regeneration: .....................................................................................................62
5.3 High Background Conductivity................................................................................................64
5.4 Drifting Baseline .....................................................................................................................64
5.5 Noisy Baseline.........................................................................................................................64
5.6 Decreased Sensitivity...............................................................................................................66
5.7 System Back Pressure Increases Over Time .............................................................................66
5.8 Liquid Leaks............................................................................................................................67
5.9 Poor or unstable recovery of certain peaks. ..............................................................................67
5.10 Peaks and spikes in the absence of an injection ........................................................................67
5.11 Low Sample Response (Neutralization Mode Only).................................................................68
5.12 Low Neutralization Capacity (Neutralization Mode Only)........................................................69
6. Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e and
Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate Suppressor Cleanup..........................................................70
6.1 Metal Contaminants or Precipitates..........................................................................................70
6.2 Organic Contaminants .............................................................................................................71
Appendix A –Current Settings................................................................................................72
A.1. Optimum Current Settings for Common Eluents; Dionex AERS 500 (4 and 2 mm)
and Dionex AERS 500e (4 and 2 mm) .....................................................................................72
A.2. Optimum Current Settings for Common Eluents;
Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate (4 and 2 mm).............................................................................75
A.3. Optimum Current Settings for Common Eluents; Dionex CERS 500 (4 mm and 2 mm)
and Dionex CERS 500e (4 mm and 2 mm)...............................................................................76
A.2 Current Settings for Older Detectors ........................................................................................79
Appendix B –Suppressor Controller.......................................................................................80
B.1 Dionex ERS 500 and Dionex ERS 500e Control for the CD20/CD25/CD25A
and ED40/ED50/ED50A (Dionex DX-500 instruments)...........................................................80
B.1.1 Dionex ERS 500 Control for the Dionex DX-120 ..........................................................................81
B.1.2 ERS Control for the CDM-3/PED-2 (Dionex DX-300 Instruments)................................................81
B.1.3 ERS Control for the Dionex DX-100 (Model DX 1-03) .................................................................81
B.1.4 SRC Controller .............................................................................................................................81
Appendix C –Alarm States for Older Instruments ................................................................84
C.1 Alarm States for the CD20/ED40 (Dionex DX-500 Instruments)..............................................84

1–Introduction
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 8 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
1. Introduction
Suppressor: The role of a suppressor in Ion Chromatography is to remove the eluent and sample
counterions and replace this with regenerant ions thereby converting the eluent to a weakly
dissociated form prior to detection. Detection of analyte ions particularly with conductivity
detection is therefore feasible against a low background. The suppressor not only reduces the
background signal but also the noise associated with the signal. Furthermore, the analytes are
converted to the more conductive acid or base form, which enhances the signal, particularly for
fully dissociated species. Thus overall improvement in detection limits, as observed from the
signal to noise ratio, is achieved. When compared to, applications that do not use a suppressor,
i.e., single column ion chromatography, the improvement in noise with suppressed ion
chromatography far exceeds the noise performance of single column chromatography
applications. Hence the suppressor has become an integral part of the ion chromatography
instrument.
The suppressors from Thermo Fisher Scientific are designed for continuous operation and do
not require any switching or offline regeneration. Furthermore, the standards and the samples
are always exposed to the same suppressor device when pursuing ion analysis, thus ensuring
that the analytical parameters are consistent between calibration and analysis. From a simplistic
perspective there are two types of suppressors offered for continuous operation; electrolytically
regenerated suppressors and chemically regenerated suppressors. The electrolytic suppressors
operate continuously with a water source as a regenerant. In the recycle mode of operation the
water source is derived from the suppressed eluent, thereby making the suppressor operation
facile. The chemical suppressors operate continuously with an external regenerant source.
The electrolytic suppressor device also permits recycle of the eluent when installed in a system
with Eluent Recycle (ER) system.
Additionally, an electrolytic suppressor can also act as an electrolytically regenerated neutralizer
for the neutralization of basic or acidic matrices prior to injection. By neutralizing the matrix
ions, trace anionic or cationic species can be detected in strong acid or base samples.

1–Introduction
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 9 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
1.1 Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor
The Thermo Scientific™ Dionex™ Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor (Dionex ERS™
500 Suppressor) replaces the Thermo Scientific Dionex Self-Regenerating Suppressor (Dionex
SRS™300 Suppressor) product line. The Dionex ERS 500 is an electrolytic suppressor with a
new hardware design that allows the suppressor to be more pressure tolerant than previous
generation suppressor devices. The suppressor flow pathway has been redesigned to optimize
band dispersion and improve the flow and sealing properties. The Dionex ERS 500 continues to
use the same cleaned ion exchange components (screens and membranes) as the Dionex SRS
300 suppressor devices; however the Dionex ERS 500 eluent channel uses an ion exchange
resin bed as opposed to a gasketed screen.
The Dionex Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor (Dionex ERS 500) is available in two
versions: the Anion Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor (Dionex AERS™500) and the
Cation Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor (Dionex CERS™500) to support anion and
cation analysis applications. The Dionex ERS 500 system consists of an Electrolytically
Regenerated Suppressor, the Suppressor Control, back pressure coils, and the Gas Separator
Waste Tube, see Figure 1. This high performance, low maintenance AutoSuppression system
provides a reliable solution for Ion Chromatography.
Additionally, the Dionex ERS 500 offers high capacity suppression while adding minimal delay
volume to the analytical system. The Dionex AERS 500 provides continuous suppression of
traditional eluents, and more concentrated eluents up to 200 mM NaOH. The Dionex CERS 500
offers continuous suppression of concentrated eluents up to 100 mN H2SO4 or MSA. This high
capacity significantly expands the capabilities and simplifies the operation of Ion
Chromatography.
The Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e and Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate suppressors are
available in 2 mm and 4 mm formats for use with 2, 3, 4, or 5 mm Ion Chromatography columns
and systems. The 2 mm Dionex ERS 500, Dionex ERS 500e and Dionex AERS 500 Carbonate
are specially designed with reduced internal volume to ensure optimum performance with 2 mm
columns and systems.

1–Introduction
Thermo Scientific
Product Manual for the ERS 500 Suppressor
Page 10 of 84
031956-11 For Research Use Only. Not for Use in Diagnostic Procedures.
Figure 1 The Electrolytically Regenerated Suppressor and Accessories
Tip
For assistance, contact Technical Support for Dionex Products. In the U.S., call 1-800-
346-6390. Outside the U.S., call the nearest Thermo Fisher Scientific office.
The Dionex ERS 500 design comprises of three channels defined by two ion exchange
membranes. The central channel is the eluent channel and the two side channels are regenerant
channels. Two PEEK plates form the outer wall of the regenerant channels and have ¼-24 ports
for bringing in the regenerant liquid into and out of the device. The eluent channel is physically
defined by a PEEK plate that seals against the ion exchange membrane and a thin elastomeric
O-ring installed in the regenerant channel. The eluent in and out ports are independent ports that
define the fluidic pathway, similar to a column. The regenerant flow is arranged to be counter-
current to the eluent flow. This orientation ensures complete regeneration of the device
Electrodes are placed along the length of the regenerant channels to completely cover the eluent
channel. In operation, when a DC voltage is applied across the electrodes and the voltage
exceeds the standard potential for the electrolysis of water (approximately 1.5 V), water is
electrolytically split to form electrolysis ions.
At the anode H2O 2H+ + 1/2O2+ 2e-
At the cathode H2O + 2e-2OH-+ H2
The electrolysis ions are then available for the suppression reactions. The Dionex ERS 500
suppressor design allows facile transport of cations or anions depending on which type of
suppressor is used for the application. For example, when pursuing anion analysis with a Dionex
Dionex ERS 500 Suppressor
Backpressure Coils
1/8 in. o.d. tubing
Gas Separator Tube
Waste Container