Ion chromatography (or ion-exchange chromatography) separates ions  based on their affinity to an ion exchanger. The result is a so-called chromatogram in which the transient signals can be assigned to individual ions (by retention time) and quantified (by peak integration an calibration with standard solutions)

We use anion-exchange chromatography in which the stationary phase is positively charged and negatively charged molecules are attracted to it. The water-soluble negative ions bind to moieties which are positively charged by forming ionic bonds to the insoluble stationary phase. The bound molecules then can be eluted and collected running an eluant which contains higher concentration of anions through the column or changing pH of the column. As detectors conductivity- or UV-detectors are used.