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Choose the right Agilent Gas Clean filter for optimal GC performance

By Paul Tripp
Agilent Product Manager, Gas Management

Ensuring gas cleanliness is one of the most important steps you can take to optimize the performance of your Gas Chromatography (GC) system. Impure gases can cause installation delays, premature instrument failure, and flawed results. What’s more, the inefficient use of increasingly expensive and rare gas can affect your profits. Agilent offers a range of Gas Clean filters that deliver clean gases, reducing the risks of column damage, sensitivity loss, and instrument downtime. Inserting an Agilent Gas Clean Filter System in the gas line immediately before the instrument inlet greatly reduces the level of impurities, thus improving trace analysis. Contaminants entering your GC column will also be reduced, which is critical for high temperature analysis and essential for longer column lifetime. Table 1 shows different types of Agilent Gas Clean filters for different instrument configurations and the benefits they provide.

Table 1. Some applications and benefits of Agilent Gas Clean Filters and related components.

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Figure 1. Fast stabilization rate (the N₂ mass measured by mass spectrometry) of a GC/MS is demonstrated when using an Agilent Gas Clean Carrier Gas filter (compared to a non-Agilent filter).

In Figure 1 we show an example of the benefits an Agilent Gas Clean filter can deliver. In this case, faster stabilization time when using the Carrier Gas filter is highlighted.

Find the right filter with the Agilent Filter Selection Tool

To get the maximum benefit from Agilent Gas Clean filters you need to select the right filter for your instrument configuration and application. The Agilent Gas Clean Filter Selection Tool is a web-based selection tool that helps you avoid the frustration and expense of ordering a filter that does not meet your needs. The tool takes you step by step – from detector… to instrument… to tubing size… to product description, picture, and part number – so you can be sure you’re buying the right filter.

Quick, easy filter tips

Once you’ve chosen the right Agilent Gas Clean filters for your system and application, following some simple procedures will help you get the most from your purchase by protecting your instrument, column, and results.

• Keep the number of fittings in the gas line to a minimum
• Install purifiers in a convenient location close to the GC
• Use purifier log books to determine maintenance and cartridge replacement schedules
• Use indicating traps closest to the GC so you know when to change the traps that are upstream and can identify any leaks

Easy ordering with the Agilent Parts Finder Tool

Another helpful tool is Agilent Parts Finder, which will help you quickly locate replacement parts for your Agilent GC instruments. Finding and ordering a part is as simple as clicking on an instrument model, clicking to locate the part, adding the part to a parts list, and printing the list for easy ordering.

Keep it clean – and working well

With a busy schedule, it can be easy to lose sight of the need for good gas hygiene. But, if you don’t manage gas quality, you jeopardize your instrument, your column, and your results. In addition to our Gas Clean filters, Agilent offers a comprehensive range of gas management systems to keep your GCs operating at peak performance. Additionally, you can view our GC troubleshooting video series for more information.

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