Discover the fastest, easiest, and most economical way to optimize IC separations.

Why Optimize IC the Hard Way?

Seeking the best column and separation conditions for an IC analysis used to be a gamble. You had to guess where to start and which parameters to vary, never sure if you were headed in the right direction. You had to spend hours generating chromatograms, consuming samples and eluents while tying up your instrument and putting wear and tear on your pump, autosampler, and column.

Fast, Risk-Free Optimization

Virtual Column eliminates the risks and hassles in optimizing IC separations by modeling their behavior in software, using known retention data and IC-specific retention algorithms. Specify the analytes you want to separate, choose the Dionex column and eluent system you want to model, and Virtual Column can find and display the optimal separation, together with a resolution map indicating the eluent concentration(s) required.

Easy Answers to Challenging Questions

Want to shorten the run time, "balance" the separation of the peaks, or resolve a pair of difficult peaks? Simply click a command to find the conditions that will yield the fastest chromatogram with acceptable resolution, or the best "spread" of the peaks, or the best resolution of two specific peaks.

Solutions to Cover Your Application Needs

Virtual Column models all of the most popular Dionex anion-exchange and cation-exchange columns, using retention data for hundreds of analytes - you don't spend any time "training" the software. Use Virtual Column in Chromeleon’s powerful Application Wizard and generate the exact Control Program and Quantification method for your newly developed separation.

Develop Gradient Separations as Easily as Isocratic Separations

Gradient separations can greatly increase the capability and performance of ion chromatography, but until recently, only experts were willing to try them. Now with a Virtual Column Complete license and Reagent-Free ^TM  IC (RFIC ^TM ) systems, everyone can take advantage of the power of gradient ion chromatography. A few minutes invested into modeling your application under gradient conditions could save you hundreds of hours per year.

Optimize Separation of Your Specific Analytes

When sulfite is added to the "standard anions", it coelutes with phosphate under standard separation conditions.

In just a few seconds, Virtual Column finds conditions that separate all analytes with baseline resolution.

Speed Up Your Separations

Standard separation conditions for the AS15 column yield excellent resolution of "standard anions" and thiosulfate, but result in an analysis time of over 36 min.

In seconds, through a single menu command, Virtual Column finds conditions that dramatically reduce analysis time, while maintaining resolution above your specified minimum.

Isolate a Specific Peak of Interest

Virtual Column quickly reveals that baseline resolution of this set of analytes cannot be achieved with the CS12A column—potentially saving hours or days of futile effort.

If the analytical need is to quantify a particular analyte, Virtual Column quickly finds the conditions that maximize resolution of the key analyte from other species.

Specifications Analytes Over 150 anion, cation, and carbohydrate species Columns Anions: IonPac® AS4A-SC, AS9-HC, AS10, AS11,AS11-HC, AS12A, AS14, AS14A, AS15, AS16, AS17, AS18, AS19, AS20 Cations: CS12A, CS16, CS17, CS18 Carbohydrates: CarboPac™ PA20 Methodologies (traditional and Reagent-Free TM ) Anions: gradient hydroxide, isocratic hydroxide, isocratic carbonate/bicarbonate Cations: gradient methanesulfonic acid (MSA), isocratic MSA Carbohydrates: isocratic hydroxide Optimization Criteria Minimum resolution, normalized resolution product, optimize for specific analyte Commands Find fastest chromatogram, find global optimum, apply product test conditions User-Editable Peak Values Area, asymmetry, theoretical plates Additional Variables Operating temperature, flow rate, void volume Storage An unlimited number of optimization projects can be saved, loaded, modified, and resaved Note: New capabilities are being continually added to Virtual Column Requirements Workstation or client station with Chromeleon Release 6.6 or higher. Gradient simulations require Chromeleon Release 6.7 or higher. Ordering Information Include Virtual Column on the same purchase order that you use to order the corresponding Chromeleon workstation or client package. To add Virtual Column to an existing Chromeleon workstation or client station, provide the serial number of that station when placing your order. (To find the serial number of a station, select "About" from the "Help" menu of the Chromeleon client software.) Order Information Virtual Column Separation Simulator, Isocratic License P/N 062915 Virtual Column Separation Simulator, Complete License P/N 063310