Your Essential Resource for SAMPLE PREPARATION

Importance of Sample Preparation

Sample preparation is a critical step in analytical workflows, directly impacting chromatographic performance, instrument uptime, and data quality. Effective cleanup and concentration of analytes from complex matrices extend column life, reduce interference, and minimize ion suppression in mass spectrometry.

Aim and Overview of the Document

This resource compiles Agilent CrossLab’s extensive portfolio of sample preparation solutions for chromatography and spectroscopy applications. It provides a structured guide to selecting and applying solid phase extraction (SPE), QuEChERS, supported liquid extraction (SLE), and filtration products for diverse industries, including pharmaceutical, food safety, environmental, and clinical research.

Methodologies and Instrumentation

Agilent’s solutions cover key sample preparation methods:

• Solid Phase Extraction (SPE): Bond Elut polymeric and silica-based cartridges and 96-well plates, featuring phases such as C18, C8, phenyl, ion-exchange, mixed-mode (Plexa, Certify, AccuCAT), and specialty sorbents (EMR–Lipid, PBA).
• QuEChERS: Preweighed extraction and dispersive cleanup kits compliant with AOAC 2007.01 and EN 15662, supplemented by ceramic homogenizers for reproducible multiclass residue analysis in fruits, vegetables, and other commodities.
• Supported Liquid Extraction (SLE): Chem Elut and Hydromatrix formats for rapid liquid-liquid partitioning of drugs, nitrosamines, and organic contaminants.
• Filtration: Captiva dual-depth filter plates, cartridges, and syringe filters for protein precipitation, lipid removal, and particulate cleanup prior to LC/MS or GC/MS.

The portfolio integrates with automated sample processors, including Agilent’s Positive Pressure Manifolds (PPM-48, PPM-96), Vac Elut vacuum manifolds, VersaPlate formats, and online SPE cartridges.

Key Features and Discussion

• Innovative polymer architectures (Bond Elut Plexa) deliver water-wettable surfaces and nonpolar cores for reduced fouling, high recoveries, and minimal ion suppression.
• Mixed-mode sorbents combine ion exchange and reversed-phase retention to clean up basic, acidic, or zwitterionic analytes in a single step.
• Prepackaged, preweighed salts and buffers in QuEChERS kits simplify workflows and improve reproducibility.
• EMR–Lipid and Captiva EMR plates provide selective lipid removal, preserving analyte integrity and reducing matrix effects.
• Monolithic SPE disks (SPEC) and microvolume OMIX tips enable low-volume elution and high binding capacity for proteomics and trace analysis.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Enhanced sensitivity: Cleaner extracts reduce background noise and ion suppression in LC/MS and GC/MS.
• Increased throughput: Automated SPE and filtration systems, along with 96-well plate formats, support high-volume sample processing.
• Cost efficiency: Bulk and cartridge options, combined with longer column life and reduced instrument maintenance, lower overall operational costs.
• Broad applicability: Solutions tailored to matrices ranging from plasma and urine to environmental water, food, and industrial samples.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Emerging opportunities include integration of sample preparation workflows with real-time remote monitoring and artificial intelligence to predict maintenance needs. Continued miniaturization and microfluidic platforms promise further gains in speed and reagent reduction. Greener chemistries and disposable formats will support more sustainable laboratory operations.

Conclusion

Agilent’s comprehensive sample preparation portfolio addresses the full spectrum of analytical challenges, from routine filtration to advanced SPE chemistries. By combining innovative sorbent technologies with robust automation, these solutions ensure reliable, reproducible, and high-throughput workflows for diverse industries.

References

• No external references were provided in the source document.