Agilent Bond Elut Family of SPE and QuEChERS Products

Importance of the Topic

Reliable sample preparation is fundamental to accurate, reproducible analytical results in fields such as environmental testing, food safety, pharmaceutical development, and forensic analysis. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and QuEChERS approaches streamline the removal of matrix interferences, enrich target analytes, and minimize instrument downtime. The Agilent Bond Elut family integrates decades of sorbent innovation and quality control to meet the evolving demands of high-throughput, trace-level analysis.

Objectives and Overview

This whitepaper presents the design, performance, and application range of Agilent Bond Elut SPE and QuEChERS products. Key goals include demonstrating consistent extraction recoveries, describing product selection guides for diverse matrices, and highlighting workflow solutions from sample cleanup to chromatographic separation.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Agilent employs proprietary polymer and silica sorbent manufacturing under ISO 9001:2008 standards to ensure lot-to-lot consistency. SPE modes include reversed-phase, normal-phase, mixed-mode cation/anion exchange (Plexa PCX/PAX), and specialty phases (carbon, Mycotoxin, PCB). QuEChERS kits combine pre-weighed salts and dispersive sorbents in extraction or cleanup formats. Instrumental validation was performed by LC/MS/MS using an Agilent InfinityLab Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column (3×50 mm, 2.7 µm) for drug and pesticide residue analysis.

Key Results and Discussion

Plexa sorbents exhibited consistent analyte recoveries (<15 % CV) over six years of lot comparisons. Mixed-mode Plexa PCX achieved clean, well-shaped peaks for opiates (e.g., morphine, codeine) with process efficiencies >95 %. QuEChERS processed chicken matrices yielded recoveries of 70–120 % and RSDs below 15 % for a panel of 12 pesticides according to AOAC/EN guidelines. Method evaluation metrics followed Matuszewski et al. (Anal. Chem. 75, 3019–3030, 2003).

Practical Benefits and Applications

• Reduced troubleshooting and lower cost per sample through robust sorbent consistency.
• Wide portfolio supports small-molecule drugs in biological fluids, pesticides in food, and environmental contaminants.
• High-throughput automation compatibility with 96-well plates, cartridge manifolds, and inline filtration (Captiva filters).

Future Trends and Opportunities

Next-generation sample prep will emphasize automation integration, miniaturized sorbents for ultra-trace analysis, and digital tools for rapid method development. Novel hybrid polymers and customized mixed-mode phases are expected to expand selectivity, while AI-driven product selection engines will further reduce development time.

Conclusion

The Agilent Bond Elut family delivers a comprehensive, quality-controlled suite of SPE and QuEChERS solutions that enhance reproducibility, streamline workflows, and support a broad range of matrices and analytes. By combining decades of expertise with global technical support and online selection resources, laboratories can achieve reliable, cost-effective sample preparation.

References

1. Matuszewski BK, Constanzer ML, Chavez-Eng CM. Anal. Chem. 75, 3019–3030 (2003).
2. Agilent Application Note 5990-9625EN: LC/MS/MS Analysis of Opiates in Urine.
3. Agilent Application Note 5991-3191EN: Pesticide Residue Analysis in Chicken using QuEChERS.