Introducing the New Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS; Improved Performance for Speciated Analysis

Significance of the Topic

Speciation analysis by ICP-MS enables the determination of element forms rather than total content, which is vital for understanding toxicity, bioavailability and regulatory compliance. Advances that extend capability to difficult elements such as P, Si, S and halogens broaden applications in environmental monitoring, food safety, petrochemicals and clinical studies.

Objectives and Study Overview

This work presents the redesigned Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS system, focusing on its performance improvements for speciation analysis. The study compares LC-ICP-MS and GC-ICP-MS methods, highlights interference removal with the ORS3 collision cell, and demonstrates applications in organo-tin, arsenic, selenium, brominated flame retardant and phosphorus speciation.

Methodology and Workflow

• LC-ICP-MS: Reversed-phase HPLC coupled directly to ICP-MS for inorganic and organometallic species. Gradient elution with acetonitrile and acid modifiers supports volatile organics.
• GC-ICP-MS: Direct introduction of volatile derivatives for thermally stable compounds. Fully heated transfer lines maintain integrity of species.
• Interference control: The ORS3 cell in helium collision mode reduces polyatomic overlaps (eg ArCl on As75), enabling simultaneous multi-element detection in a single cell mode.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS with ORS3 collision cell
• Agilent 1200 HPLC system
• Agilent 7890 GC system with heated transfer line
• MassHunter workstation software for sequence control and data analysis

Main Results and Discussion

• Detection limits in the low ppt to fg range for Se78 and As75 in complex matrices, with blanks below 5 ppt.
• Excellent retention time and peak area precision over 20 injections spanning 14 hours.
• Successful speciation of organo-tins (MBT, DBT, TBT, TPhT) and methylmercury by GC-ICP-MS with compound-independent calibration.
• Analysis of PBDE congeners from mono- to deca-brominated species with fast GC and near-quantitative recovery for BDE-209.
• Direct quantification of 31P from chemical warfare agent breakdown products by HPLC-ICP-MS.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High matrix tolerance and minimal sample preparation for a wide range of sample types.
• Single-cell operation simplifies gas control, reducing method complexity and calibration requirements.
• Compound-independent quantification ensures reliable results even without species-specific standards.
• Fully integrated software streamlines instrument control, data acquisition and reporting for routine QA/QC.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Further expansion into ultra-trace detection of emerging pollutants, including organophosphorus pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
• Integration with microseparation techniques and miniaturized sample introduction for higher throughput and lower solvent consumption.
• Automation of speciation workflows and real-time data processing using AI-driven software modules.
• Enhanced isotopic and molecular mass resolution enabling coupled multi-modal analyses.

Conclusion

The Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS with ORS3 collision cell and improved RF generator delivers robust, high-sensitivity speciation analysis across LC and GC platforms. Its ability to handle traditionally challenging elements broadens the scope of environmental, food, pharmaceutical and forensic applications while simplifying routine operation.

Reference

1. Agilent Publication 5989-6160EN Handbook of Hyphenated ICP-MS Applications First Edition Agilent Technologies