Purchasing new GC-MS soon. Need some advice.

[GimmeYoLunchBox]

Im leaning towards Agilent, have been looking at their 7890A/7890B and 5975C/5977A. Anyone have any input on the new Agilent software (i think its called Mass Hunter)? How does it compare to the ChemStation?

The GC-MS will be used for environmental analysis of PAHs, PCBs, OCs, and potentially PBDEs. Anyone out there prefer other GC-MSs outside of Agilents? Ive worked on PerkinElmer and Shimadzu GC-ECDs but was not really a big fan of either.

Thank you in advance.

Luke

[MSCHemist]

I like Agilent I just don't like the Pfieffer foreline pumps they come with (noisy and unrealiable break every 2 years) a 7890 with a 5975 and Edwards E2M1.5 works great and is very reliable. The new 7890's have an optional accessories that switch the GC/MS to nitrogen flow while samples aren't running to save He.

I didn't think Mass Hunter was out for single quads yet. I used it in a 7000 QQQ. It has some bugs but some nice points. Say you have an analysis with 40 some analytes. You can go through each run of the same analyte rather than cycle through all 40 analytes then go on to the next sample. It works well when manually integrating to match how you are drawing the baseline for each analyte.

[JMcK]

This post was pretty timely, since I am also looking to get a GC MS. I'm looking at getting a used instrument however. We have a 6890 with FID. I'm considering getting a 5973 MSD to add to the system. Does anyone have information regarding the life expectancy of this instrument? I assume I'll have to purchase a library to go along with this. Would I be better off getting a newer instrument, such as a 5975?
Thanks for any input you can provide,
John

[Mr.Brown]

We bought a Shimadzu 2010 GC-MS a year ago. So fare every thing works as it should.
Getting a workable vacuum after replacing a column or changing the source is quite fast.
The Software takes some time to get used to, but now I kind of like it.

One thing i do not like is that it is not possible to do overlapping Headspace with the Shimadzu software when using a PAL autosampler.
You have to use the PAL own software to do that.

[James_Ball]

This post was pretty timely, since I am also looking to get a GC MS. I'm looking at getting a used instrument however. We have a 6890 with FID. I'm considering getting a 5973 MSD to add to the system. Does anyone have information regarding the life expectancy of this instrument? I assume I'll have to purchase a library to go along with this. Would I be better off getting a newer instrument, such as a 5975?
Thanks for any input you can provide,
John

I have two 5973's that are over ten years old, one turbo an one diffusion pump model, and two others in the 5-8 year old range and none of them have given me any problems beyond one needing a side board because someone accidentally shorted it out. I would not hesitate to recommend one to go with your GC. Look for a reputable reseller for best results. (I have had good luck with EST Analytical in the past myself for this.)

[JMcK]

Thanks James. That helps.

[carras]

Hi all,

I've just started with a 5975C and at first blush it is more sensitive that the 5973 I have. This last has been working since 2000 with no big issues. Our lab determines veterinary drugs and pesticides/PCBs in biological matrices.

P.D. my nuevo 5975C comes with Chemstation software.

[thohry]

My previous lab uses a 6890 since 1998, then upgraded to GC/MS with 5973 in 2000. The system is still a working horse today.

[Rick]

Hi!
We have 8 gc/ms ...4x 6890-5973 and 4x 7890a-5975c with msdchemstation....no problem with this instrument, very robustness.
The pfeiffer pump and edwards pump are noisy and too small...i have change it for Agilent DS102 pump.....my vacuum is better and the noise is low.
I don't know for mass hunter software but some user don't like it.
We analyse 450 pesticides in 2 injections and the use of chemstation is friendly user and effective with Qedit for verifying Target and qualifiers ions integration.

[JMcK]

Thanks Rick for the good information. Pump noise can really get to be a problem sometimes. It's good to know how to avoid it in the first place.

[Dr Lou]

In terms of pumps - we just bought an Agilent 5975C - EI and CI. This has to have a dry pump because the ammonia gas used in CI can rot the seals.

This dry pump is the quietest I have ever heard. It was most expensive though but the vaccum is better than that I have got in the past with an Edwards oil based pump.

Bear in mind you can buy boxes to site the pump in to dampen the noise. I think KRSS sell them.

[tlahren]

This post was pretty timely, since I am also looking to get a GC MS. I'm looking at getting a used instrument however. We have a 6890 with FID. I'm considering getting a 5973 MSD to add to the system. Does anyone have information regarding the life expectancy of this instrument? I assume I'll have to purchase a library to go along with this. Would I be better off getting a newer instrument, such as a 5975?
Thanks for any input you can provide,
John

I agree with most of the other users here that the 5973 is a very robust system. I've worked with many of them varying in age and have had no serious problems. I have had one Edwards turbo pump fail after about 7 years of use. The 5975 is pretty much the same Ion source with the 5975C model having a new "Triple-Axis" Detector system on it. The 5975B is basically a 5973 with an upgraded sideboard (faster electronics that allows faster data rates as well as simultaneous SIM/Scan capabilities) and a Ion Source Viewing window.

I also don't care for the Pfeiffer Pumps as much but we just received a new LC/QQQ and it came with Agilent/Varian foreline pumps. I would imagine that the new 5977 may have one of these as well. They look really industrial but are fairly quiet considering the size (for the large ones we have).