Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Agilent Technologies Announces GC Productivity, Performance Boosts, Next-Generation HPLC-Chip/MS, and Collaboration with EPA at Pittcon 2009

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Abstract:
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today introduced major enhancements to its flagship gas chromatography (GC) line that enable users to run more samples and increase performance with challenging samples at lower cost. The second generation of Agilent's HPLC-Chip/MS is also making its debut here, offering double the life of existing HPLC-Chips. In addition, Agilent announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study perfluorinated compounds in the environment.

Agilent Technologies Announces GC Productivity, Performance Boosts, Next-Generation HPLC-Chip/MS, and Collaboration with EPA at Pittcon 2009

Chicago, IL | Posted on March 9th, 2009

"Analytical labs need to run more samples in less time without sacrificing quality, and Agilent has always responded with breakthrough GC designs," said Shanya Kane, Agilent vice president and general manager, Gas Chromatography Systems and Workflow Automation. "Today we're announcing just the latest examples of a long history of Agilent innovations helping GC customers maximize the value of their instrument investments."

Agilent Introduces 7693A Series GC Automated Liquid Sampler (ALS)

The 7693A ALS is a completely new design, offering substantial gains in throughput, flexibility, sample preparation automation and serviceability for all current Agilent benchtop GC models. The new ALS is modular, letting users configure the exact autosampler they need - starting from a basic injector with a 16-sample turret, and later adding capabilities as needs expand. Options include a second injection tower, a 150-vial sample tray and a vial heater/mixer/barcode reader for long unattended operation.

Agilent's exclusive fast-injection technology is twice the speed of any competitive ALS. Injection time of less than 100 milliseconds minimizes sample degradation and the effects of needle discrimination. The two-injector configuration doubles sample throughput.

Agilent offers an optional Heater/Mixer/Barcode Reader module that can automate a number of pre-injection procedures. This offers substantial savings in time and labor, and operator-to-operator variability is eliminated. Solvent consumption and waste expense can be trimmed by as much as 90 percent.

New Multimode GC Inlet Delivers Higher Performance at Lower Cost

Agilent also introduced the Multimode GC inlet with split, splitless and programmable temperature vaporization (PTV) capability, costing approximately $2,500 less than the previous version and featuring much lower maintenance requirements.

Temperature programming capability facilitates a wide range of injection volumes, analysis of thermally unstable samples and better productivity through fewer sample-preparation steps. The new inlet incorporates Agilent's Turn-Top feature, which allows liners to be changed in seconds without special tools or training.

A major benefit of PTV is the ability to inject high matrix samples with little or no cleanup into a GC or GC/MS. Productivity is enhanced and maintenance is further reduced when this is combined with the backflush function available with the Agilent 7890A GC and 5975C GC/MS.

"Dirty" samples can be injected into the GC or GC/MS. When the compounds of interest have reached the detector, gas flow is reversed in the precolumn, where the high boiling compounds are flushed out of it and the inlet before they reach the analytical column. The results are longer column life and reduced maintenance requirements. The new inlet shares common liners, septa, ferrules, nuts and o-rings with the standard inlet, eliminating the need to stock special parts.

World's Most Inert Capillary GC Column Line Expanded

Agilent announced the addition of Agilent J&W DB-1ms and HP-1ms Ultra Inert columns to the industry's most inert family of capillary GC columns, Agilent J&W Ultra Inert Capillary GC columns. The superior and consistent inertness of these columns allows for trace-level analysis of active compounds, such as acids and bases, with high confidence. This new chemistry is particularly well suited for applications such as fragrance fingerprinting, analysis of pesticides and drugs of abuse, and unknown sample screening.

"We're raising the bar for GC column performance with reactive samples, and the excellent peak shapes these columns produce give our customers high confidence in the results," said Helen Stimson, Agilent vice president and general manager, Consumables and Supplies Division.

Next-Generation HPLC-Chip for MS has Double the Life Expectancy

Agilent also unveiled the Agilent 1200 Series HPLC-Chip II, the second generation of its pioneering high-performance nano liquid chromatography/electrospray system for mass spectrometry. The new chip platform is designed to provide greater than two times the life of the original HPLC-Chip.

Agilent added proprietary Ion Implantation (II) technology to the new HPLC-Chips, extending life expectancy beyond 1,000 injections, depending on the application. The main benefits are lower cost-per-experiment and enhanced chip-to-chip and run-to-run reproducibility. The carbon ion implanted filter dramatically improves characteristics of polyimide surfaces as well as reduces friction between the rotary valve and the chip body for longer life.

Initially, the Agilent HPLC-Chip II is available in a phosphopeptide chip (for post-translational modifications), the large-capacity protein ID chip, and the ultra-high-capacity chip. HPLC-Chip II technology will be extended across the entire HPLC-Chip family in coming months. Agilent now offers 12 versions of HPLC-Chips, plus custom versions. All Agilent HPLC-Chips are compatible across the entire portfolio of Agilent mass spectrometers.

Agilent, U.S. EPA Collaborate to Study Perfluorinated Compounds

Agilent today announced it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Exposure Research Laboratory of the U.S. EPA to use the Agilent time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) to detect and identify both known and unknown perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the environment.

The study of perfluorinated organic compounds in the environment has increased recently as a result of continued studies that indicate their distribution, persistence and toxicity in the environment and biological systems. The collaborative efforts between the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) and Agilent will focus on identifying PFOS and PFOA (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid - both used in a variety of commercial products) isomers and related compounds while characterizing their environmental distributions and the potential pathways for human exposure.

The Agilent 6220 Accurate Mass TOF used in this CRADA will help EPA detect and identify compounds in part-per-trillion range. This capability, along with Agilent MassHunter software, is well suited for detecting and identifying very small amounts of unknown compounds.

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About Agilent Technologies Inc.
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is the world’s premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company’s 19,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenues of $5.8 billion in fiscal 2008.

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Contacts:
Agilent Technologies Inc.
Stuart Matlow
+1-408-553-7191

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