Device built-in

Agilent GC-MS (QTOF) Gas Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry System

The Agilent GC-MS (QTOF) is a high-performance gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry system developed by Agilent Technologies, which perfectly combines the high-efficiency separation capability of gas chromatography with the high resolution and accurate mass measurement of quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This system demonstrates exceptional performance in environmental analysis, food safety, forensic toxicology, petrochemicals, and other fields.

Core Technical Features

The Agilent GC-QTOF system employs an innovative quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem configuration, comprising three key modules:

1. Gas Chromatography Module:

• Equipped with 7890B gas chromatograph featuring advanced Electronic Pneumatic Control (EPC) technology
• Temperature range: Ambient +4°C to 450°C, supporting rapid heating/cooling
• Optional various injectors (split/splitless, cold on-column, etc.) and detectors

2. Mass Analyzer:

• Quadrupole mass selector (Q1) with mass range: 10-2,700 m/z
• Time-of-flight analyzer (TOF) providing >40,000 FWHM resolution
• Adjustable collision energy (0-120 eV) supporting multi-stage MS analysis

3. Detection System:

• High-sensitivity detector with dynamic range >10⁵
• Mass accuracy <2 ppm (internal standard), <5 ppm (external standard)
• Acquisition rate up to 50 spectra/sec

Performance Advantages

The Agilent GC-QTOF offers several groundbreaking technological advantages:

1. Ultra-High Resolution and Mass Accuracy:

• Resolution >40,000 FWHM distinguishes compounds with minimal mass differences
• Mass error <2 ppm (internal standard) enables elemental composition determination
• Isotopic pattern fit >90% improves compound confirmation reliability

2. Full Scan and Targeted Analysis Capabilities:

• Supports both Full Scan and Selected Ion Monitoring (SIM) modes
• Obtains accurate mass information for all components in a single injection
• Database search function (NIST/EPA/NIH) simplifies unknown compound identification

3. High-Throughput Analysis:

• Scanning speed up to 50 spectra/sec
• Polarity switching time <20 ms
• Deep integration with MassHunter software platform simplifies data processing

Key Application Areas

With its outstanding performance, the Agilent GC-QTOF excels in:

• Environmental Analysis: Monitoring persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), etc.
• Food Safety: Pesticide residue analysis, food additives, flavor compounds
• Forensic Toxicology: Drug abuse screening, toxicant identification
• Petrochemicals: Complex petroleum component analysis, polymer monomer detection
• Metabolomics: Volatile metabolite analysis

In environmental pollutant analysis, the system can detect pg-level polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in full scan mode. For food safety applications, it simultaneously screens >300 pesticide residues, meeting EU SANTE/11813/2017 standards.

The Agilent GC-QTOF represents the forefront of gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry technology. Its innovative hardware design and intelligent data processing capabilities provide powerful tools for complex sample analysis, making it the ideal choice for modern analytical laboratories.