Triple Quadrupole GC/MS Offers Greater Precision, Selectivity and Sensitivity

Agilent Technologies’ (USA) 7000B Triple Quadrupole Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS/MS), delivers high confidence in ultra-trace level results, while shortening analysis times for target compounds in complex samples.

The Agilent 7000B provides femtogram-level sensitivity for analyses such as pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, pyrethroids, THC, and steroids in food, environmental, pharmaceutical, and forensic matrices.

Agilent introduced the “A” version of this instrument in June 2008. The 7000 Series system was the first MS/MS specifically designed to handle the rigorous demands of high-temperature separations of complex matrices. Agilent’s gold-plated quartz, hyperbolic quadrupole analysers operate at temperatures up to 200oC without any loss of resolution or sensitivity. The 7000B extends the performance and capabilities with the introduction of more sensitive electron ionization (EI) source and a new chemical ionization (CI) source. All of these improvements are reverse compatible to the 7000A.

“With the 7000B introduction, Agilent is shifting the performance emphasis from signal-to-noise to precision.” said Terry Sheehan, Ph.D., Agilent GC/MS product manager. “As MS/MS baseline noise approaches zero, RSD of peak response is a far better benchmark of performance. We’ve designed the Agilent 7000B GC/MS/MS to deliver the precision needed to make accurate qualitative and quantitative decisions even at dwell times as small as 1 millisecond.”

The new high-sensitivity EI source sends more precursor ions to the mass analyser, increasing sensitivity and precision. Source temperature is programmable up to 350oC to accommodate complex matrices. High temperature also means less cleaning, reducing labour requirements and increasing uptime. The source is fabricated of solid inert materials, rather than coated, for durability and stable performance.

The new positive and negative CI source generates ideal precursor ions for MS/MS. Based on the proven CI source of the single quadrupole Agilent 5975C GC/MSD, this PCI/NCI source is built to deliver high sensitivity and trouble-free CI operation.

The 7000B MS/MS achieves ultra-fast multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) speed of 500 per second without any “cross talk” between consecutive transitions. High-speed MRM enables users to determine more compounds per ion group than with comparable instruments.

Agilent has enhanced the capabilities of the 7890 GC with a new multi-mode inlet (splitless, PTV and split) and new high-efficiency backflush tools. As compared to traditional column bakeout, backflushing high-boiling matrix extends column life, shortens analysis time, and reduces source maintenance.