In suppressor-column ion chromatography the chromatographic column is followed by a suppressor column whose purpose is to convert the ions used for elution to molecular species that are largely nonionic and thus do not interfere with conductometric detection
of the analyte species. In single-column ion chromatography, low capacity ion exchangers are used so that the concentrations of ions in the eluting solution can be kept low. Detection then is based on the small differences in conductivity caused by the presence of eluted sample components.