Agilent InfinityLab LC Series

Significance of the Topic

The Agilent InfinityLab LC Series addresses a core need in analytical chemistry by offering scalable liquid chromatography solutions that balance performance with budgetary constraints. Efficient separations, method flexibility, and seamless system integration are critical for laboratories conducting routine quality control, complex research, or high-throughput screening.

Objectives and Study Overview

This summary reviews the design philosophy, performance characteristics, and practical benefits of the InfinityLab LC Series. The brochure outlines how Agilent integrates hardware, software, and service to optimize analytical, instrument, and laboratory efficiency for applications ranging from basic HPLC to ultrahigh-performance LC and LC/MS workflows.

Methodology

Agilent’s approach emphasizes:

• Modular LC hardware platforms (1220, 1260, and 1290 Infinity II) tailored to entry-level, everyday, and ultrahigh-performance needs.
• Intelligent System Emulation Technology (ISET) for direct transfer of existing methods from legacy or third-party systems with no adjustments.
• Integrated OpenLAB CDS control and Agilent Instrument Control Framework (ICF) for seamless operation and third-party CDS integration.
• RFID-based electronic column ID tracking and instrument diagnostics for preventive maintenance and data confidence.

Instrumentation Used

Key components described include:

• 1220 Infinity II LC: Compact, 600 bar pump, UV/diode array detection up to 80 Hz, 100-position autosampler.
• 1260 Infinity II LC: Four-solvent mixing pump with BlendAssist, flexible pump, multicolumn thermostat for up to eight columns.
• 1290 Infinity II LC: 1300 bar pump, ultralow dispersion, high-speed diode array detector up to 240 Hz, dual-needle multisampler for up to 6144 samples.
• InfinityLab columns and supplies: Poroshell 120 columns, Quick Connect fittings and heat exchangers, RFID-enabled lamps and flow cells.
• Software: Agilent OpenLAB CDS, MassHunter, cross-vendor control via ICF.
• Services: Agilent CrossLab plans with Remote Advisor monitoring and preventive maintenance.

Main Results and Discussion

The brochure highlights five decades of LC innovation, illustrated by a timeline of milestone technologies such as microbore systems, high-pressure valves, ultrahigh-pressure pumps, and 2D-LC solutions. Performance data demonstrate:

• 1290 Infinity II LC achieving up to 14 000 theoretical plates in sub-2-min runs and retention time RSD below 0.02 %.
• Carryover below 9 ppm with multisampler multiwash, supporting trace analysis.
• Expanded dynamic range in diode array detection (30× improvement) and sensitivity gains (10×) over conventional detectors.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Agilent’s integrated LC solutions deliver:

• Analytical Efficiency: High-precision solvent delivery, ultralow dispersion, and broad detector linearity ensure reliable quantitation.
• Instrument Efficiency: Single-vendor modularity with quick-change columns and valves reduces downtime and streamlines maintenance.
• Laboratory Efficiency: Method interoperability, stackable hardware footprint, and software flexibility minimize training and facilitate regulatory compliance.
• Application Versatility: Ranging from routine pharmaceutical analysis and environmental testing to advanced 2D-LC, bio-inert LC, preparative purification, and low-flow proteomics.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Emerging directions include:

• Comprehensive 2D-LC with multiple heart-cutting and feed-injection workflows for complex sample matrices.
• Expansion of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) modules for greener, faster separations.
• Further integration with high-resolution mass spectrometry and real-time data analytics via cloud-enabled Remote Advisor services.
• Increased automation and AI-driven method development to accelerate time to result.

Conclusion

The Agilent InfinityLab LC Series offers a cohesive portfolio that spans routine to ultrahigh-performance chromatography. By uniting advanced hardware, integrated software, and proactive service, the series ensures a future-proof investment, enabling reliable, high-throughput analyses across diverse laboratory environments.