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

Agilent Technologies Inc. announces four enhancements to its flagship 7890A gas chromatograph (GC) and 5975C GC/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), designed to improve analysis of complex mixtures and make powerful 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. 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 determinations.

“The power of GC x GC can now move beyond the realm of the specialized research lab into the routine analytical lab, thanks to the simplicity of the capillary flow device and the associated savings in costs and operational difficulty,” said Shanya Kane, Agilent vice president and general manager, Gas Chromatography Systems.

For more information, please visit www.chem.agilent.com/Scripts/PDS.asp?lPage=62367.

Long-Lasting, Stable Nitrogen/Phosphorous Detection

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

The Blos 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.

“We observed the great performance and durability of these detectors in Europe, and saw excellent potential for making this technology available globally,” Shanya Kane said. “That’s why we acquired the technology.”

The Blos bead NPD for GC is expected to be available from Agilent later this year.

High-Efficiency Capillary GC Columns

Agilent also chose Pittcon to introduce Agilent J&W High-Efficiency Capillary GC columns. They are designed for fast 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 easily and reliably translate current methods with the help of Agilent’s free Method Translation Software.

More information is available at www.agilent.com/chem/HEColumns.

Triple-Axis Detector Raises GC/MS Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Agilent’s new Triple-Axis Detector (TAD) for the Agilent 5975C GC/MS delivers the industry’s strongest signal at any given operating gain, thanks to unique 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.

“By taking a fresh look at the design, we were able to produce a detector that provides the superior performance demanded by scientists working in forensics, metabolomics and other high-precision fields, while lowering the cost of ownership through an extended lifetime,” said Monty Benefiel, Agilent GC/MS marketing manager.

The new TAD lowers the detection limits of the Agilent 5975C GC/MS by a factor of two, to an industry-leading 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.

New Deconvolution Software: More Accurate GC/MS Library Matches and Quantification

Agilent today announced the introduction of Deconvolution Reporting Software (DRS) version A.04.00, used to extract MS signals of interest from complex mixtures, including closely co-eluting peaks. Deconvolution works especially well with dirty matrices.

Agilent DRS is an application for target compound analysis that combines results from Agilent ChemStation for GC/MS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Automated Mass Spectral Deconvolution and Identification Software (AMDIS) and the NIST 2005 Mass Spectral Search Program into one easy-to-read report.

The new version of Agilent DRS provides quantitation of AMDIS deconvoluted results in Agilent MSD ChemStation QEdit. It also generates summary reports of both MSD and AMDIS deconvoluted results for efficient review.

Users save considerable amounts of time and cost with Agilent DRS. Complex data can be analyzed in as little as one minute of processing time per sample. Agilent DRS is more thorough than standard quantification and library search methods, and finds additional targets not found by the conventional data system. Screening and quantitation can be performed in a single run, and there’s no need to learn a separate software application. For more information please visit www.chem.agilent.com/scripts/generic.asp?lpage=14509&indcol=N&prodcol=Y.