Thermo Fisher Scientific Dionex ICS-900 Used Ion Chromatograph

Overview

The Thermo Fisher Scientific Dionex ICS-900 is a benchtop ion chromatograph engineered for high-precision, routine anion and cation analysis in environmental, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and industrial quality control laboratories. Based on proven suppressed conductivity detection principles, the ICS-900 employs a dual-piston isocratic pump system coupled with a thermally stabilized digital conductivity detector to deliver reproducible quantitation across trace-level (sub-ppb) to high-concentration (ppm) ranges. Its modular architecture supports both standard anion exchange (e.g., AS18, AS19) and cation exchange (e.g., CS12A, CS16) column chemistries, enabling method flexibility without hardware modification. The instrument operates under Chromeleon Chromatography Data System (CDS) v7.2+, a validated platform supporting 21 CFR Part 11 compliance—including user access controls, electronic signatures, and immutable audit trails—making it suitable for regulated environments governed by GLP, GMP, or ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.

Key Features

• Dual-piston isocratic pump with pulse-dampened flow delivery, offering ±0.1% flow accuracy from 0.001 to 5.000 mL/min and long-term stability over continuous 72-hour runs.
• Digital conductivity detector featuring real-time temperature compensation (±0.01 °C control), 0.001–15,000 µS/cm linear dynamic range, and <0.05 nS baseline noise (typical).
• MMS™ 300 micro-membrane suppressor operating in self-regenerating DCR (Dynamic Continuous Regeneration) mode—eliminating external regenerant lines while maintaining sub-1% baseline drift over 8-hour analyses.
• Full-PEEK fluidic path (including pump heads, injector, detector cell, and tubing), resistant to strong acids (e.g., HNO₃, H₂SO₄), bases (e.g., KOH, NaOH), and mixed aqueous/organic eluents (up to 40% acetonitrile or methanol).
• USB 2.0 interface with automatic device enumeration; seamless integration with Chromeleon CDS for method transfer, sequence management, and raw data archiving in .cdf format.
• Factory-aligned optical encoder-based injection valve ensures precise 25–100 µL loop volume repeatability (RSD <0.3%) and minimal carryover (<0.01%).

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The ICS-900 accommodates aqueous samples across wide ionic strength (0.1–100 mM) and pH (2–12) ranges, including drinking water, wastewater, semiconductor rinse solutions, biological extracts, and excipient matrices. It fully supports EPA Methods 300.0 (anions), 300.1 (disinfection byproducts), and 310.1 (cations), as well as ASTM D4327 (anion analysis in water) and ISO 14911 (determination of anions/cations in water). All refurbished units undergo full functional verification per Thermo Fisher’s original factory specifications—including pressure integrity testing, detector linearity calibration, and suppressor efficiency validation—and are supplied with IQ/OQ documentation executed in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Annex A.2 guidelines.

Software & Data Management

Chromeleon 7.2.10+ provides complete instrument control, peak integration, reporting, and data security features required in regulated labs. Audit trail functionality logs all user actions—including method edits, sequence changes, and result reprocessing—with timestamps and operator IDs. Electronic signature capability enables secure approval workflows aligned with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 Subpart B. Raw data (.cdf) and processed reports (.pdf, .xlsx) are stored in configurable network repositories with role-based access permissions. Optional add-ons include Chromeleon Auto-Report Designer and LIMS connectivity modules (e.g., LabWare, STARLIMS) via ODBC or REST API.

Applications

• Environmental monitoring: Quantification of F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₂⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, SO₄²⁻, and cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) in surface water, groundwater, and effluent per EPA protocols.
• Pharmaceutical QC: Testing of residual chloride, acetate, or phosphate counterions in APIs and injectables per USP and EP 2.2.38.
• Food safety: Determination of preservative anions (sorbate, benzoate), nitrate/nitrite in meat products, and inorganic arsenic species after hyphenated IC-ICP-MS coupling.
• Electronics grade water analysis: Detection of ppq-level fluoride and sulfate contaminants in ultrapure water used in wafer cleaning processes (SEMI F57/F67 standards).
• Academic research: Method development for novel ion-exchange ligands, polymer characterization (sulfonate/carboxylate group density), and speciation studies of transition metals.

FAQ

Is this unit covered by original Thermo Fisher factory warranty?
No. As a certified pre-owned instrument, it carries a 6-month limited hardware warranty administered by SpectraLab Scientific, covering defects in materials and workmanship under normal laboratory use.
Does the system include Chromeleon software license and installation support?
Yes—each unit ships with a perpetual, node-locked Chromeleon 7.2.x license, pre-installed and activated. Remote setup assistance and initial method validation support are included.
Can the ICS-900 be upgraded to gradient elution capability?
No. The ICS-900 is strictly an isocratic platform. Gradient operation requires the ICS-5000+ or ICS-6000 systems with quaternary pumps and low-volume mixers.
Are AS-DV autosampler and eluent generator options available?
Yes—both are offered as optional add-ons. The AS-DV enables unattended 112-sample analysis; the EG40 eluent generator supports automated KOH/MSA generation for high-pH anion or low-pH cation separations.
What documentation is provided with the instrument?
A complete package includes IQ/OQ execution records, calibration certificates (pump flow, detector response, conductivity cell constant), suppressor performance report, and Chromeleon validation summary—all traceable to NIST standards.