Agilent InfinityLab Solutions for Environment, Health, and Safety Aspects in an HPLC Workflow

Importance of the topic

In modern analytical laboratories, environment, health, and safety (EHS) concerns strongly influence workflow design and instrument selection. Effective solvent handling, vapor containment, waste management, and ergonomic operation are essential to protect users and reduce environmental impact. This white paper reviews a survey of laboratory and EHS managers and presents Agilent’s solutions for safer, greener high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) workflows.

Objectives and Study Overview

The primary aim is to identify key EHS priorities in HPLC environments—chemical safety, ergonomic design, sustainability—and describe how targeted hardware and accessories address these needs. The study draws on feedback from 387 lab and EHS professionals, quantifying their major concerns, and demonstrates how Agilent InfinityLab solutions respond to those challenges.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The approach combines survey data analysis with performance testing of Agilent EHS-focused products under typical HPLC conditions. Method modernization examples illustrate solvent-saving benefits. Key instrumentation and accessories include:

• Agilent InfinityLab LC Series modules: integrated leak sensors, leak-to-waste funnels
• Agilent Stay Safe caps for solvent and waste bottles
• Agilent InfinityLab solvent bottles and well plates with preslitted sealing mats
• Agilent IDP dry scroll pumps (oil-free operation)
• Agilent InfinityLab Flex Bench and Flex Bench MS systems
• Agilent InfinityLab Quick Connect and Quick Turn fittings
• Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC System and Ultivo TQ mass spectrometer

Main Results and Discussion

Solvent handling improvements include ergonomic glass and polymer bottles with anti-tip design, leak sensors that halt operation on detection, and adjustable bench heights for safer bottle changes. Stay Safe caps reduced methanol vapor release by up to 98% versus open bottles and 85% versus standard caps. Waste canisters with optimized leak-and-evaporation funnels and charcoal filters maintain pressure equilibrium and capture hazardous vapors. Oil-free IDP dry scroll pumps eliminate pump-oil vapor exposure.

Transitioning from conventional HPLC to UHPLC and ultrafast LC using superficially porous columns cut acetonitrile consumption by up to 98%, lowering disposal costs and solvent inventory risks. Modern chiral and HILIC columns allow replacement of toxic normal-phase solvents (e.g., heptane) with water–acetonitrile or alcohol mixtures, speeding analyses and improving resolution.

Ergonomic assessments found 94% of respondents value ergonomic instrument benches. The Flex Bench family enables modular stacking, tool-free connections, and easier access for maintenance, reducing repetitive strain. Noise-reducing covers for pumps and LC modules decrease acoustic impact. Electrical and leak-sensor safety features further mitigate lab hazards.

Environmental sustainability measures include participation in My Green Lab’s ACT labeling program, onsite rain-water harvesting, combined heat and power generation, and a photovoltaic system offsetting grid electricity. Packaging materials are recyclable or managed through take-back and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Agilent offers refurbishment for end-of-life 1290 Infinity II systems.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced operator safety via leak detection, vapor containment, and ergonomic design
• Reduced solvent evaporation and waste disposal costs
• Increased throughput and resolution through modern column technologies
• Lower long-term instrument footprint through energy-efficient manufacturing and renewable energy use
• Simplified method transfer from legacy to high-efficiency UHPLC or ultrafast LC workflows

Future Trends and Possibilities

Emerging directions include integrating real-time environmental monitoring within LIMS, further miniaturization of solvent volumes, advanced materials for even lower vapor permeability, and closed-loop systems that recycle solvents. Digital twins and AI-driven scheduling could optimize EHS performance, while expanded circular economy initiatives will promote instrument refurbishment and material reclamation.

Conclusion

Addressing EHS priorities in liquid chromatography demands holistic solutions spanning instrument design, accessories, and lab workflows. Agilent InfinityLab products combine leak protection, vapor containment, ergonomic handling, and sustainability measures, enabling laboratories to meet regulatory requirements, enhance productivity, and minimize environmental impact.

References

1. Agilent InfinityLab Stay Safe Caps and Accessories. Agilent Technologies brochure, publication number 5994-1798EN, 2020.
2. Agilent IDP Dry Scroll Pump Family: Transforming Your Needs into Vacuum Innovations. Agilent Technologies brochure, publication number 5991-7583EN, 2017.
3. Improved Aromatic Acids Analysis: Saving Significant Time, Solvent, Sample and Money with 1.9 μm Agilent InfinityLab Poroshell 120 Columns. Agilent Technologies application note, publication number 5991-7518EN, 2016.
4. Less Stress. More Flexibility: Agilent InfinityLab Flex Bench Family. Agilent Technologies flyer, publication number 5991-5163EN, 2019.
5. Less Stress. More Reliable Connections: Agilent InfinityLab Quick Connect Fittings. Agilent Technologies flyer, publication number 5991-5164EN, 2018.
6. Do You Know the Environmental Impact of Your HPLC? Agilent Technologies technical overview, publication number 5994-2335EN, 2020.