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Looking for maintenance and
troubleshooting advice? Agilent’s
Alliances
experts are backed by 40 years of
practical experience and they want
to share it with you. So check here
first for the fast tips and tricks that
can help you get the results you
need. DID YOU KNOW?
Agilent's recent acquisition of
I often use a GC or GC/MS to analyze complex samples. I Scientific Software, Inc. has
created one of the broadest
have a lot of questions regarding how to increase
laboratory informatics portfolios
productivity and improve the quality of my results. available. Learn more.

We want your opinion.

Tell us what you think.

By Matthew S. Klee, Ph.D.,

Technology Specialist
Serve up safer food with
LC/TOF-MS.
You say you have a lot of questions. Well, you are not alone. Many lab
professionals are looking for ways to get the most out of their GC and Hot on the trail of Sudan
GC/MS analyses of complex samples while they increase confidence in their dyes in chili powder.
results. Here’s a small sampling of the questions they ask:
Want to keep your MSD fit
How can I get more information from a single GC or GC/MS without a heavy workout?
analysis? Condition your capillary
How can I gain more confidence in the quality of my results when columns.
analyzing target compounds in complex matrices?
Is there an easy way to decrease GC/MS analysis cycle times? Shopping is easy – and fast –
Is it possible to decrease the frequency of – and time spent on at Agilent's new and
routine maintenance for my GC/MSD? improved Online Store.
How can I get the most out of the GC or GC/MSD system I have?
How can I make reliable column connections that are inert and won’t
leak during wide temperature program ramps?

If these questions sound a lot like yours, I’m not surprised. Just about anyone who has ever worked on a GC or
GC/MS has asked them at one time or another. A new family of devices from Agilent Technologies goes a long
way towards addressing the fundamental needs associated with these questions. These new devices fall into the
category of gas-phase microfluidics and thanks to them, reliable, inert, rugged, and low-volume “application
transparent” capillary connections can be made in the GC for the first time.

Here’s an example of just how well a gas microfluidics device can work. In this example, a purged 3-way splitter
was used to split capillary column effluent and send it to multiple detectors. Because of the split, more
information is gathered during a single run. This results in faster location of peaks of interest, better integration of
target peaks, and higher overall confidence in identity of unknowns. Lab efficiency improves, higher accuracy in
qualitative and quantitative results is achieved, and data review gets easier so analysts save significant time
reviewing results.

Purged 3-way splitter Split capillary column effluent to multiple detectors in an "application transparent"
manner

Backflush – another important application of gas phase microfluidics – can significantly decrease analysis cycle
time. Backflush is a technique that reverses column flow after the last compound of interest has eluted from the
column. Later-eluting compounds are thereby quickly forced back out the head of the column (within a couple of
column void times) into the split/splitless inlet where they are trapped on the split vent trap. Oven temperature
programs can be ended earlier, at lower temperatures, which saves analysis cycle time. Backflushing also
reduces the frequency of source cleaning by preventing high-boiling components and column bleed from reaching
the ion source. Backflush is also easy to implement with any of the purged devices, including QuickSwap.

All microfluidics products have been treated to maximize sample path inertness. Calculator software is included
for purged products to easily calculate restrictor-tubing lengths, flow rates, and split ratios to help make setup
choices. Diffusion-bonded plate technology, sample path design and new-technology fittings virtually eliminate
tailing and leaks typical of older generation devices.

There are a number of gas microfluidics devices. Each is named for the specific function for which it was
designed, but potential uses are varied and span a wide application space. The table below lists the microfluidics
devices for GC that are available now or will be available in the near future.

Device Name Part Number Primary Function Secondary functions

Dean’s G2855B or Flow switching

Multidimensional heartcutting
Switch* G1540 opt #888
Solvent venting

2 columns in, one path out

Inlet maintenance without

2-Way Purged G3180B or venting MSD
Split column effluent to 2 paths
Splitter * G1540 opt #889
Backflush

Column change without

venting MSD

Not possible to do backflush

2-Way non-
G3181B Split column effluent to 2 paths or GC maintenance without
Purged splitter
venting MSD

2 columns in, split to 2 paths

3-Way Purged 2-way purged splitter

G3183B ** Split column effluent to 3 paths
Splitter *
Column change without
venting MSD

Use with MSD to circumvent need to Backflush

QuickSwap * G3185B ** vent or cool transfer line when changing
Optimized for easy MSD
column or doing inlet maintenance
installation and operation

Straight union for leak free capillary-to- Broken column repair

G3182-61580
capillary connections
Ultimate union Retention gap to column
G3182-61581 Non-deactivated version connection

Tube Connection of capillary columns to gas Any capillary to 1/16” OD

G1580-61060
connector sample valves metal tubing connection

* Requires one channel of programmable pressure via Aux EPC Module or Pneumatics Control Module
** Check Agilent for availability

Find ordering information on Agilent’s Gas Phase Microfluidics products.

Explore Microfluidics information, a helpful Dean’s switch brochure and Agilent’s Splitter Kit Installation and
Operation Guide.

Read the Application Note about Deans Switch-based Oxygenates Analyzer.

When is the right time to change the lamp in my HPLC detector?

By Erich Wagner,
Product Manager

You need two lamps to run the 1100 Series Diode Array and Multiple Wavelength detectors because of their
extended wavelength range, which runs from 190 to 950 nm. A low noise tungsten lamp emits light over the 470
to 950 nm spectrum to provide light for the visible wavelength range. The deuterium lamp is a shine-through
lamp that produces intense ultraviolet (UV) light over the 190-600 nm spectrum. It allows visible light to pass
through to deliver a high intensity light beam for the full spectrum range. Light output below 190 nm is not readily
transmitted due to UV absorption by the lamp’s envelope.

The light intensity of a deuterium lamp decreases slowly during its lifetime for two fundamental reasons:

1 . The internal metal components and coatings evaporate, which can also lead to ignition problems.
2 . The filament coating material reacts with the quartz envelope, which impedes light emission.

Our standard UV lamps are designed to last 1000 hours and our long life lamps, 2000 hours, based on our
benchmark specs. After that time, a minimum of 50% of the initial light intensity should still be available.

Should I always replace my lamp after 1000 or 2000 hours?

The operating life of a deuterium lamp is defined as the total

number of lamp hours for which the lamp can be used for
meaningful work. Of course, a lamp’s useful lifetime for a very
challenging trace-level analysis may be shorter than its lifetime
when used for a less sensitive analysis, such as preparative scale
HPLC. We have reports of lamps lasting as long as 6,000 and
even 10,000 hours. So if you want to get the most out of your
lamps, you need to exercise your own judgement based on your
application’s requirements.

I would like to replace my lamps on a regular schedule. How

do I determine the best time to replace them?

As I mentioned before, your lamp’s usable lifetime depends on a number of factors including your application and
the sensitivity needed for detection. If you want to get the optimum usage from your lamp, the best
recommendation I can make is to tell you to keep track of your usage and develop your own statistics on useful
lifetime. Then you can schedule your preventive exchange accordingly.

Which factors influence my lamp’s lifetime and performance?

Lamp ignition frequency

The lamp’s useful lifetime is in inverse proportion to the number of lamp ignitions. Leaving the lamp on
continuously can decrease its useful life by about three-fold, based on an eight-hour workday. However, turning
the lamp on and off can also shorten its lifetime. In addition, you will be less productive because each time the
lamp is turned on, it needs to warm up for 30 minutes in order to stabilize.

Dirty or contaminated flow cell or optical components

A dirty or contaminated flow cell is often the cause of reduced light throughput. So check and clean your flow
cells regularly, using a lint free cloth or cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol. You also should clean the windows
and the lenses inside the detector.

The cleaning tools listed here are particularly useful for these jobs:

Description Part No.

Lint-free cloths (15/pk) 05980-60051

Lint-free industrial wipes, 100% cotton, 9x9 in. (300/pk) 9310-4828

Cotton swabs (100/pk) 5080-5400

My new lamps seem to be decreasing in intensity. Why aren’t the new ones as strong as my older ones
were?

From time to time users complain that the intensity of their new lamps is decreasing over time and they ask if we
have made any changes.

Each of our lamps is tested to meet well-defined intensity specifications, so the probability of the lamps’ intensity
lessening is almost non-existent. In many cases, the fault lies with dirty lenses or flow cells in the detector.
Sometimes the lack of intensity is caused by aged optics. Many technicians discover that cleaning the flow cell
works like magic to increase light intensity and lengthen the lamp’s usable lifetime.

Contamination of the outer envelope

If you want your lamps to last a long time, never touch the lamp with bare fingers. Oils from your skin will burn
onto the glass envelope and produce a discoloration, which may reduce light emission. It can also lead to a
stress failure. If you touch the surface of the lamp inadvertently, swab the glass with isopropyl alcohol to remove
any contaminants before installing the lamp.

Physical shock

At approximately 2700 º Kelvin, the filament is almost liquid when the lamp is on! This means that any physical
shock to the instrument or detector module can easily damage or break the lamp filament. Of course, filaments
are always delicate, so you should also avoid shock whenever you install or transport a lamp. In addition, it is
very important that you always allow the lamp to cool down before turning it back on. Powering up a hot lamp
may damage the structural integrity of the filament.

Explore helpful information including product and replacement procedures for Agilent’s deuterium & tungsten
lamps.

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