Agilent Technologies Makes GC, GC/MS Capabilities Accessible to Wider Range of Labs

Agilent Technologies Inc. has announced four enhancements to its flagship 7890A gas chromatography (GC) and 5975C GC/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), designed to improve analysis of complex mixtures and make qualitative and quantitative capabilities accessible to a wider range of laboratories.

Cryogen-Free GC x GC: Agilent introduces GC x GC that doesn’t require cryogen. GC x GC, also known as “comprehensive GC,” is the separation of complex samples by diverting each peak from a GC column to a second column. This two column method can substantially increase peak capacity and resolving power, which is highly useful with complex mixtures such as petroleum, fuels, fragrance and environmental samples, the company said.

Until now, this required cryogenic cooling for modulation between the columns, adding considerable cost and complexity to the basic GC. Agilent also developed columns to further enhance GC x GC performance.

This new GC x GC configuration is the latest iteration of capillary flow technology, introduced with the Agilent 7890A GC in 2007. It uses a differential flow modulator to focus and transfer effluent from the first column to the second with great precision and repeatability.

Control of the device is fully integrated into the 7890A. Capillary flow technology is a proprietary engineering breakthrough for in-oven connections and flow manipulations that withstand temperature cycles and pressures of GC analyses without leaking.

Agilent capillary flow technology now offers the widest range of multidimensional capabilities, from its simple 2-D Dean’s switch device for heart-cutting to analyze for specific peaks in complex mixtures, to comprehensive GC x GC for detailed sample characterization and component class determination.

Agilent has also announced the acquisition of BIos bead nitrogen/phosphorous detector (NPD) technology for GC. Designed to increase productivity and uptime compared to existing NPD designs, the BIos NPD is well-suited for environmental and forensic applications.

The BIos NPD is built for a very long lifetime and provides high operational stability throughout its lifetime. The unit resists ambient humidity and moisture, contributing to this long life and stability.

High-Efficiency Capillary GC Columns: Agilent also chose Pittcon to introduce Agilent J&W High-Efficiency Capillary GC columns. They are designed for chromatography where high speed and resolution are needed simultaneously. Applications include high-throughput screening, fast process monitoring, rapid QC analysis, and quick method development for a wide variety of sample matrices such as environmental, petrochemicals, flavors/fragrance and pharmaceutical samples.

This column’s smaller inside diameter of 0.18 mm delivers higher resolution while its shorter column lengths increase speed. The new Agilent J&W High-Efficiency Capillary GC columns also require less carrier gas than comparable columns to reduce cost per experiment. They’re compatible with a wide range of existing GC instruments and operate with helium or hydrogen. Users can chose from more than 20 stationary phases and can translate current methods with the help of Agilent’s free Method Translation Software.

Triple-Axis Detector Raises GC/MS Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Agilent’s new Triple-Axis Detector (TAD) for the Agilent 5975C GC/MS delivers signal at any given operating gain thanks to geometry and a new electron multiplier design. The signal is enhanced while neutral noise is substantially reduced. The new detector is also designed to last twice as long as previous models when operated properly, the company said.

“By taking a fresh look at the design, we were able to produce a that provides the Superior performance demanded by scientists in forensics, metabolomics and other high—precision fields, while the cost of ownership through an extended lifetime,” said Monty Agi lent GC/M S marketing manager.

The new TAD lowers the detection limits of the Agilent 5975C GC/MS by a factor of two, to a signal-to-noise ratio of 400: 1 for 1 pg OFN. The new design places the electron multiplier off-axis from the transmission quadrupole, maximizing ion collection (increasing signal) while reducing neutral noise.

The detector also introduces a triple channel multiplier with more amplification and longer life than previous units. Agilent’s new Gain Normalized optimization of the electron multiplier delivers optimal balance between ion count, linearity and life expectancy. Gain Normalization also provides consistent sensitivity as the electron multiplier ages, and provides consistent ion counts between multiple GC/MS systems.