Worldwide Ion Chromatography Demand

Ion chromatography (IC) is a similar technique to HPLC except that the detector of choice is usually a conductivity detector. Ion chromatography (IC) is well suited for the analysis of a variety of inorganic and organic anions and cations. There is an additional dimension to an experiment using the technique as a result of the need to deal with changes in the ionic strength of the solution as the analyte materials are exchanged.

Worldwide IC Industry Distribution, 2008

US and Europe account for the majority of the total IC market. New EPA methods/regulations, improving economic conditions in the US and strong growth in Europe are expected to fuel new instrument purchases. In addition, various environmental concerns in China and Latin America are also expected to translate in higher IC revenues.

IC has a stable installed base that supports a growing aftermarket. This is especially true with innovative products that have hit the market to improve ion chromatography performance and overall lab productivity.

The chemistries have not changed much over the years. However, improvements in instrument design and performance have added life of IC market. The availability of instruments from low-end, application-specific models to value-added instruments, and even, high performance IC-MS systems, allow IC vendors to offer unique solutions for any individual laboratory. In addition, enhanced software capabilities coupled with intelligent IC systems have stretched the boundaries of functionality and ease-of-use to an already computer-savvy group of end-users.

Independent testing laboratories, which include environmental testing, account for nearly one-third of the market demand. The chemical and the pharmaceutical industries contribute to the demand by accounting for about 15% and 13% of the worldwide IC market, respectively. Even though the top three industries account for the majority of the IC market, the remaining industries, albeit in varying degrees, have utility for ion chromatography.

The foregoing data was extracted and adapted from a MAP report published in 2009 entitled Liquid Chromatography:User Requirements Force Adjustments. For more information, contact Glenn Cudiamat, VP of Research Services, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, tel. (310) 641-4982, fax (310) 641-8851, e-mail:cudiamat@strategic-directions.com