--- type: "WebPage" title: "Ion chromatography analysis laboratory (IEX)" description: "You would like to carry out an analysis using ion exchange chromatography or IEX What is ion exchange chromatography? Ion chromatography (or ion exchange, often abbreviated to IEX for Ion Exchange Chromatography) is an efficient separation method used for the..." resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/rheological-analysis-laboratory-polymer-rheology/ion-chromatography-analysis-laboratory/" tags: ["EN", "pll_66f15fb8d2a94"] timestamp: "2026-06-23T18:27:01Z" published: "2024-09-23T12:33:47Z" language: "en" author: "bwa" --- # Ion chromatography analysis laboratory (IEX) ## You would like to carry out an analysis using ion exchange chromatography or IEX ### What is ion exchange chromatography? [**Ion chromatography**](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-ion-chromatography.md) (or **ion exchange**, often abbreviated to **IEX** for *Ion Exchange Chromatography*) is an efficient separation method used for the purification, analysis and characterization of charged molecules, such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and other biomolecules, analysis and characterization of charged molecules such as [proteins](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/biopharmaceutical/biotherapeutic-recombinant-protein-characterization.md), [peptides](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/biopharmaceutical/biotherapeutic-and-recombinant-protein-characterization/peptide-analysis-biopharmaceutical-services/), nucleic acids and other biomolecules. This technique is based on the interaction between charged molecules present in a sample and a resin with an opposite charge, facilitating their separation according to their charge. ### The principle of ion exchange chromatography analysis Ion exchange exploits the net charge of molecules as a function of **pH**. By adjusting the conditions of the sample and the mobile phase (buffers), positively or negatively charged molecules interact differently with the stationary phase, allowing them to be separated. The resins used in IEX fall into two main categories: - **cation exchange resins**: negatively charged, they retain positively charged molecules (cations). - **anion exchange resins**: positively charged, they retain negatively charged molecules (anions). ![Schema-IEX-1024-x-1024-px-2.png](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/elementor/thumbs/Schema-IEX-1024-x-1024-px-2-quj512zyy6cv8whimtsz70xq8eu29bvqwdjs5c4ivc.png) ### Factors influencing separation Certain key factors need to be taken into account when using ion exchange chromatography (IEX): - **the pH of the buffer**: the pH must be adjusted according to the charge of the molecules to be separated. - **ionic strength**: molecules are generally eluted using a salt gradient (such as NaCl), which helps to remove the molecules from the column. - **the type of resin**: the choice between cation or anion exchange resins, and between strong or weak exchangers, depends on the nature of the molecules to be separated. ### The advantages of ion chromatography and ion exchange (IEX) The main advantages of ion exchange chromatography are : **High resolution**: the IEX can separate molecules that are very close in terms of charge, offering high precision. **Adaptability**: this technique is flexible and can be used with different types of biomolecules and ions. ## The FILAB laboratory supports manufacturers in ion exchange chromatography (IEX) analysis ### Why choose FILAB? Laboratoire indépendant, doté d’une équipe de docteurs et d’ingénieurs expérimentés, [FILAB](https://filab.fr/en/) garantit la **fiabilité de ses résultats**, assure un **traitement rapide des demandes** ainsi qu’un **accompagnement personnalisé** à l’égard de ses clients. ### Our ion exchange chromatography analysis services Ion exchange chromatography and IEX have a wide variety of applications: **Ion and small molecule analysis**: used to detect and quantify anions[(chlorides](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/halogen-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-determination-chlorine.md), [nitrates](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/laboratory-analysis-nitrosamines/laboratory-analysis-determination-nitrites-nitrates.md), [sulphates](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/halogen-analysis-laboratory/sulphate-analysis.md)) and cations (sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.) in environmental or industrial samples. **Characterization of antibodies and complex biomolecules**: IEX is widely used in the [biopharmaceutical industry](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/biopharmaceutical.md) for the analysis and purification of monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic peptides and other biomolecules, in particular to identify charge variants. **[Battery](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/environmental-laboratory-analysis/waste-recovery-analysis-laboratory/battery-recycling-testing-laboratory/) analysis**: particularly useful for analysing the composition of electrolytes (LiPF₆), detecting [contaminants](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-sem-scanning-electron-microscopy/laboratory-analysis-contaminants.md), and identifying degradation products that can affect battery performance and life. ## Our detectors [LC-MS:](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-uplc/laboratory-analysis-hplc-lcms.md)Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry [LC-UV:](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-uplc/hplc-uv-analysis-laboratory.md)Liquid chromatography coupled to a UV detector [LC-RI:](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-uplc/laboratory-of-analysis-by-hplc-ri.md)Liquid chromatography coupled to a Refractometry (RI) detector [LC-ELSD](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/analysis-lc-elsd-laboratory.md): Liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detector [LC-MS/MS:](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-uplc/laboratory-analysis-hplc-lcms.md)Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry [LC-QTOF:liquid chromatography with a high-resolution time-of-flight detector](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-for-lc-qtof-analysis.md) [LC-CAD:](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-uplc/laboratory-analysis-lc-cad.md) Liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detector