Chromatography Forum

Hello to everybody,

As you probably know Agilent developed a new GC with an innovative technology for column installation, heating and lower energy consumption.


However it has only the space for 1 Injecteur and 1 Detector (+ MS ), it is more expensive and working with two columns seems quite cumbersome.

What do you think about it? :

My first thought was, it would be great for a mobile lab where footprint and energy consumption are critical.
My second thought was, we got rid of our mobile lab because we couldn't staff it.

Didn't they introduce a small GC a decade or so ago?

I would really like to see what results people get with some of the nasty samples we analyze on a regular basis. The guard column is etched into a replaceable "chip" and all flow connections between inlet/column and column/detector are also chip based and all connections are pressure of two flat surfaces without ferrules I believe.

I can see it working for something like Drinking Water samples, but what about samples that look like used motor oil that have to be run at lowest possible dilution factors because a client wants some unrealistically low detection limit on a single analyte? Shoot that on a megabore column and at worse you have to take a loop out and reinstall, but I don't see a way to do that with the columns they use in this unit. They seem to be made into a mount that is attached to the ends of the column, not sure you can take any length off of them if they get dirty.

The idea is to replace the guard chip (1 minute) instead of cutting off the column, so you will not have a retention time shit. However if your contamination go trough the chip, it looks bad, because you will have to replace at least the flow chip and probably the column (they do not describe a way to cut it). Another interesting thing is the direct heating, with a temperature increase of 250 °C / min. And, no nuts, no ferrules, no gold seal.

In my opinion, for complex applications and dirty samples that requires often manual intervention this machine is limiting, but to run a few applications on clean samples, it looks promising.

I like that they are trying to innovate and usually Agilent does thing well. Personally i don't like the proprietary columns like i didn't with LTM, i want to choose across sellers and not be linked to Agilent...

The idea is to replace the guard chip (1 minute) instead of cutting off the column, so you will not have a retention time shift.

Agilent's website is putting those guard chips at $286 a pop, if I have the right part, so gooping up a microfluidics chip is an expensive error.

Also worth noting: The columns are special. They're this flat configuration, specially wound, etc. Best as I know, they're not interchangeable with conventional columns. And I'm going to guess they're under patent, same as the guard chips- $$.

It's a very nice system and it has some clear advantages, but I don't know if the savings make up for the extra costs.

In terms of price, this GC has the same "official" price of the GC 7890B, however I am pretty sure that the "customer" price is not going to be same.

Agilent's website is putting those guard chips at $286 a pop, if I have the right part, so gooping up a microfluidics chip is an expensive error.

Also worth noting: The columns are special. They're this flat configuration, specially wound, etc. Best as I know, they're not interchangeable with conventional columns. And I'm going to guess they're under patent, same as the guard chips- $$.

Yes, everything is under patent I suppose. However I am not sure the will make the columns too expensive, because this would really reduce the interest of the system on the market. I will try to get some european prices and write them back on the forum.

Here a description from Agilent website with the innovative specs:

Allow me to step in here. I am not at 100% up to date on the Intuvo, but this is what i learned during our trade shows.
1 injector, but 2 detectors are possible, or 1 detector and a MS in parallel for instance.
Column is planar and up to 60 meters for single column single detector of up to 30 meters for dual column and 2 detectors.
Columns is snapped into place and even i could do it, but I also fix my bike myself. Torque wrench is provided!
If i am not mistaken customer columns or non-Agilent columns can be used but then these are bespoke.
Back-flush is supported so you can prevent heavy compounds entering the column.

Software: OpenLAB 2, EZChrom or ChemStation and Masshunter

...

Thank you for the informations. Do you know if the Intuvo supports the Helium conservation module and the Sleep/Wake mode presents on the 7890B ?

As far as I remember yes

Confirmed today Dean Switch and backflush supported

My doubt is mainly about the guard chip. If it must be changed with the same frequency we are cutting the column, it is going to be extremely costly in a small lab(240 $ a pop), and if this is not done contamination can potentially spreads to the flow chip (more than 300 $)
Of course the guard chip does not allow the contaminants to enter the column, but it fills up of contaminants exactly like a column head I suppose.

Hi in my country Netherlands the Guard Chip costs 170 € package of 2 for SSL and 305 € for MMI.

Where does this 240$$$ come from? If it is 240$ it is a package of two, which fits the $ to € conversion

Yes dirty samples will clog the guard chip as fast as a column. However, Dean Switch and Backflush can be integrated in the flow chip and can be used to isolate the guard chip from the column and blow it off at high temperature if that is possible for your type of samples.

Agilent has the 7820 7890B and the Intuvo 9000. Hence the choice is quite good.

I would really like to see what results people get with some of the nasty samples we analyze on a regular basis. The guard column is etched into a replaceable "chip" and all flow connections between inlet/column and column/detector are also chip based and all connections are pressure of two flat surfaces without ferrules I believe.

I can see it working for something like Drinking Water samples, but what about samples that look like used motor oil that have to be run at lowest possible dilution factors because a client wants some unrealistically low detection limit on a single analyte? Shoot that on a megabore column and at worse you have to take a loop out and reinstall, but I don't see a way to do that with the columns they use in this unit. They seem to be made into a mount that is attached to the ends of the column, not sure you can take any length off of them if they get dirty.

I've been using the intuvo for 8270D and am having a hard time even getting the intial checkout to pass. These metal guards seem to eat DDT...I'm seeing 50% breakdown on 50 ng injections split 10:1.

Also, they don't sufficiently protect the column. I ran 1 day of contaminated samples and had to replace my column because the benzidine response was only 20% on the CCV eval after replacing the liner and guard chip. SO that was a $1000 maintenance day. A 7890 with a db-5ms would have been restored to new performance with a liner and seal replacement and .5m column trim.

...

Thank you for the informations. Do you know if the Intuvo supports the Helium conservation module and the Sleep/Wake mode presents on the 7890B ?

Helium conservation not yet, but sleep/wake mode yes