Innovations from Agilent - Improve your separations

Significance of the topic

The selection of high-performance consumables and columns is critical in modern analytical chemistry. Improvements in column technology and sample preparation enhance separation efficiency, sensitivity, and throughput. As laboratories face increasingly complex matrices—from biopharmaceutical fluids to environmental samples—robust and versatile consumables deliver economic and time-saving benefits while ensuring reliable quality control and regulatory compliance.

Objectives and overview of the whitepaper

This whitepaper presents Agilent’s latest portfolio of LC, GC, and spectroscopy columns and supplies. It aims to demonstrate how these innovations address analytical challenges by improving lifetime, selectivity, and compatibility across HPLC, UHPLC, GC, and ICP applications. The document highlights specific products, their performance characteristics, and the value they bring to routine and advanced analytical workflows.

Methodology and instrumentation

The whitepaper details a range of consumables optimized for different analytical modes:

• LC Columns & Supplies: AdvanceBio Amino Acid Analysis, AdvanceBio Peptide Plus, AdvanceBio MS Spent Media, InfinityLab Poroshell 120 HILIC and chiral phases.
• GC Columns & Supplies: J&W DB-FATWAX Ultra Inert, J&W DB-HeavyWAX, ADM Flowmeter, IDP-3 Dry Scroll Pump.
• Spectroscopy Standards & Supplies: OneNeb Series 2 nebulizer, ICH/USP <232> Impurities Kit, LED Measuring Magnifier.
• Services: Agilent University Running Start training modules to accelerate new operator proficiency.

The methodologies described include amino acid and peptide separations under high pH and high temperature, HILIC-MS detection of polar metabolites, chiral enantiomer resolution, and robust sample cleanup via enhanced matrix removal for lipids. GC methods cover FAME and fatty acid analysis at extended temperature ranges, with flow and vacuum control tools for system qualification.

Main results and discussion

Key performance outcomes include:

• High efficiency separations: Poroshell superficially porous particles achieve up to 90% efficiency of sub-2 µm totally porous media with lower backpressure.
• Extended lifetime and stability: High pH, high temperature, and robust endcapping deliver reproducible peak shapes for amino acids, peptides, and chiral analytes.
• Simplified workflows: EMR-Lipid SPE formats remove over 99% of phospholipids without analyte loss, reducing sample prep steps and downtime.
• Improved GC performance: Ultra inert FATWAX phases sharpen FAME peaks, and HeavyWAX columns tolerate isothermal operation up to 280 °C for faster runs.
• Spectroscopy enhancements: OneNeb Series 2 nebulizer ensures precision (<1% RSD) with high TDS samples, while certified impurities kits streamline regulatory compliance.

Discussion emphasizes how these consumables integrate seamlessly into existing HPLC/UHPLC, LC/MS, GC, and ICP platforms to boost sensitivity, reduce reruns, and increase laboratory throughput.

Benefits and practical applications

Laboratories gain:

• Higher productivity: Faster separations, fewer method transfers, and minimized maintenance.
• Cost savings: Reduced solvent consumption, lower backpressure, and fewer column replacements.
• Enhanced data quality: Consistent recoveries, sharper peaks, and cleaner spectra support confident decision-making.
• Regulatory readiness: Certified reference materials and robust SPE tools simplify compliance with ICH/USP guidelines.

Applications range from biopharmaceutical amino acid and peptide mapping to food-fatty acid profiling, environmental monitoring, and routine QC in pharmaceutical labs.

Used instrumentation

The following Agilent products are highlighted:

• AdvanceBio amino acid, peptide, and spent media columns
• InfinityLab Poroshell 120 HILIC-Z, HILIC-OH5, and chiral columns
• J&W DB-FATWAX Ultra Inert and DB-HeavyWAX GC columns
• Agilent Captiva EMR-Lipid SPE plates and cartridges
• A-Line vials for reproducible sample recovery
• OneNeb Series 2 nebulizer and LED Measuring Magnifier for ICP-MS
• ICH/USP <232> Impurities Kits
• ADM Flowmeter and IDP-3 Dry Scroll Pump

Future trends and possibilities

Emerging directions include the integration of advanced materials (e.g., novel zwitterionic and polyhydroxy phases) with digital diagnostics for predictive maintenance. Automation of sample preparation and real-time quality monitoring will further accelerate workflows. Sustainability efforts—such as reduced solvent and plastic use—will shape next-generation consumables. Additionally, expanding high-throughput chiral and polar separations in biomanufacturing and metabolomics promises to drive new applications.

Conclusion

Agilent’s latest consumables portfolio addresses critical analytical challenges by combining innovative column chemistry, robust sample cleanup, and user-friendly instruments. These enhancements deliver higher efficiency, reliability, and regulatory confidence across LC, GC, and spectroscopy workflows. By adopting these solutions, laboratories can achieve significant gains in productivity, data quality, and cost efficiency.

Reference

No formal literature citations were provided in the source document.