Water, electricity and ion exchange; how Hamish Small sustained the evolution of ion chromatography

Since the development of synthetic ion exchange resins in 1935, the electrochemical properties of these unique materials have intrigued researchers. In 1951, Hamish Small was introduced to synthetic ion exchange resin when he studied the electromigration of cations in these new materials. In 1955, he began working in the ion exchange division of the Physical Research Laboratory at Dow Chemical. In 1975, Small and co-workers described a new analytical tool, ion chromatography, which would revolutionize ion analysis. Twenty years after the commercial introduction of ion chromatography, Small demonstrated how an electrically polarized ion exchange resin bed could be used to produce an acid or base eluent using water as the pumped phase. Today, Small's inventions remain the core technology in state-of-the-art ion chromatography systems for electrolytic eluent production, purification, and suppression. This is a personal account of my collaboration with Hamish and how he sustained the evolution of ion chromatography for more than 50 years.