Agilent Technologies Announces Products, Highlights Newly Expanded Company at Pittcon

* 240 and 220 Ion Trap GC/MS systems, combining multiple ionization and scan modes with rugged 7890A GC.
* Intelligent System Emulation Technology for the Agilent 1290 UHPLC, facilitating instrument-to-instrument method transfer.
* CrossLab supplies portfolio, providing high-quality supplies for major brands of GC instruments.
* 971 Flash Purification System, offering fast, easy, secure purification of new synthetic compounds.
* Second-generation Low Thermal Mass GC system, combining faster cycling with convenience of standard data system software.
* The 2011-12 Essential Chromatography and Spectroscopy Catalog, which is 50 percent larger than the previous edition.

Agilent also highlighted the addition of Fourier transform infrared technology to its spectroscopy portfolio with the recent acquisition of A2 Technologies. Spectroscopy was a key factor in the Varian acquisition, and the A2 instruments for petrochemical, environmental, aerospace, art conservation academia and geosciences analyses fit well into Agilent's spectroscopy portfolio.

Strong demand for our newly expanded consumables portfolio, vacuum products and molecular spectroscopy systems in Q1 nicely complemented organic growth of Agilent's tradition product lines, said Mike McMullen, president, Agilent Chemical Analysis Group. Momentum is building and we are well on the way of delivering on the promise of Varian.

Additions to our portfolio like NMR are very strategic parts of this bigger company, said Nick Roelofs, Ph.D, president, Agilent Life Sciences Group. For example, NMR is frequently used alongside mass spectrometry for structure determination. We will continue to invest in advancing these complementary technologies and are well-positioned to serve high-growth markets.

Ion Traps Join Agilent GC/MS Lineup

Agilent introduced the 240 and 220 Ion Trap GC/MS systems, combining the flexibility (multiple ionization and scan modes) of ion trap mass spectrometers with the rugged performance of the Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph. The Agilent 240 Ion Trap MS offers a sub-picogram detection limit in full scan mode, providing reliable quantitation and identification over a wide range of concentrations.

The instrument also features MS/MS and MSn capabilities, which reduce matrix influences and provide detailed structural data. EI, CI and MS/MS can be performed in the same run, providing tremendous selectivity for complex matrix analysis. Applications include environmental and material testing, food quality and safety measurements, and a wide range of research and routine analyses performed in government and academic labs.

The Agilent 220 Ion Trap MS is designed for labs requiring flexibility of ionization and scan modes at the lower end of the GC/MS price range. These include educational labs as well as labs needing rugged operation for high-throughput, routine testing such as regulated groundwater, wastewater or volatile organic compound analysis. Users can start with EI and easily upgrade to CI or MS/MS as needed.

Technology Emulates Any LC System

Agilent chose Pittcon 2011 to introduce Intelligent System Emulation Technology for the 1290 Infinity UHPLC. This harnesses the wide power range and the superior accuracy of the 1290 Infinity to emulate other systems for the seamless transfer of methods between LCs, regardless of brand.

In other words, it makes the Agilent 1290 Infinity the world's first truly universal commercial LC system as it can execute other high-performance and ultra high-performance methods and deliver the same chromatographic results without any change of the instrument or method.

This is important for many laboratories where LC methods are transferred between departments or locations using different LC systems. For more information, visit http://www.agilent.com/chem/1290.

Supplies Support Major GC Brands

Agilent also introduced the Agilent CrossLab supplies portfolio, providing high-quality supplies for major brands of gas chromatography systems. Benefits include boosting lab productivity and performance while consolidating purchasing to reduce administrative burdens.

The growing Agilent CrossLab portfolio is manufactured to perform seamlessly with GCs from Bruker (including former Varian products), PerkinElmer, Shimadzu and Thermo Scientific.

Products within the supplies portfolio include Agilent's innovative Ultra Inert inlet liners for active compounds, plasma-treated non-stick inlet O-rings and septa, autosampler syringes, autosampler vials, capillary column ferrules, and column nuts, to name a few.

For more information, visit www.agilent.com/chem/crosslab.

System Rapidly Purifies New Synthetic Compounds

In addition, Agilent introduced the Agilent 971-FP Flash Purification System, a personal flash chromatography instrument for pharmaceutical chemists offering very fast, easy and secure purification of new synthetic compounds.

The instrument features a new software interface designed for easy operation and tracking of samples. The Guide Me wizard simplifies setup and eliminates much tedious method development. The Six-Clicks touch screen dialog makes separations even more convenient, simplifying a previously cumbersome procedure.

The Agilent 971-FP system is designed to achieve maximum recovery and purity of milligrams through tens of grams of target compound in minutes.

For more information, visit www.agilent.com/chem/flash.

Next-Generation Low Thermal Mass for GC

Agilent also introduced the Agilent LTM Series II system for gas chromatography, the second generation of its proprietary low thermal mass technology that greatly increases sample throughput through faster column heating/cooling cycles.

The LTM Series II system can utilize standard Agilent chromatography data system software, enabling users to seamlessly integrate the higher throughput of LTM technology into their laboratory workflows.

The Agilent LTM Series II system works with the Agilent 7890A GC, known for its rugged performance. Rather than using the 7890A as a conventional GC oven, the columns are wrapped with heating elements and temperature sensors, enabling dramatically faster temperature ramp rates and rapid cool-down.

For more information, visit www.agilent.com/chem/GC.

Expanded Chromatography and Spectroscopy Catalog

The 2011-2012 Essential Chromatography and Spectroscopy Catalog totals 1,344 pages, 50 percent more than the previous edition. It is the first to include columns and other consumables from Agilent's acquisition of Varian Inc.

In addition to Agilent J&W GC columns, ZORBAX LC columns and Poroshell LC columns, this edition contains details about Bond Elut solid phase extraction, Captiva Filtration, application-specific GC and LC columns, GPC/SEC gels and standards, flash chromatography products, and atomic and molecular spectroscopy supplies.

The 2011-2012 Agilent Essential Chromatography and Spectroscopy Catalog can be ordered free of charge at www.agilent.com/chem/reserve or by texting CATALOG to 99158.

Headspace Sampler

Agilent also exhibited its 7697A Headspace Sampler for GC, introduced in February. The new design allows users to introduce volatile compounds automatically from virtually any sample matrix, directly into a GC or GC/MS. Its architecture is similar to the market-leading 7890A GC and 7693A ALS product line, designed to deliver the best chromatographic results on the market. Vial capacity of 111 accommodates high-volume sequences.

Automated Sample Prep

In addition, Agilent displayed its recently introduced 7696 Sample Prep Workbench, a new instrument for automated preparation of analytical samples. In addition to increased productivity through automation, the 7696 can reduce cost per sample compared with manual methods by consuming smaller amounts of reagents, producing less waste and requiring no glassware beyond sample vials. The 7696 is compatible with liquid chromatography and gas chromatography workflows.