Transferring Methods to Intuvo: Six Practical Examples

Importance of the Topic

Gas chromatography remains a cornerstone technique for trace analysis across environmental, petrochemical, food safety, e-liquids and lubricant studies. Reliable method transfer between instruments is essential to maintain regulatory compliance, maximize laboratory efficiency and conserve valuable bench space.

Objectives and Overview

This technical overview illustrates six practical examples of translating established methods from an Agilent 7890 GC system to the compact Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC platform. The goal is to show that split/splitless inlet conditions, capillary column programs and detector setpoints can be moved directly while preserving analytical performance.

Methodology and Instrumentation

All case studies used the same injection volumes, inlet temperatures and flow rates on both platforms. Key Intuvo features include the Guard Chip (for matrix protection) and Jumper Chip (for high-purity samples). Default oven and bus temperature settings simplify method setup. Major instrumentation elements:

• Gas chromatographs: Agilent 7890 GC and Intuvo 9000 GC
• Inlets: Split/splitless; pulsed splitless for semivolatiles, standard split for e-liquids
• Columns: DB-5MS UI, DB-1 UI, HP-5MS UI and DB-BAC1 UI capillaries
• Detectors: Mass selective detector (MSD), dual plasma sulfur chemiluminescence detector (SCD), flame ionization detector (FID)
• Chips: Guard Chip (track oven mode) and Jumper Chip
• Software: MassHunter, CDS ChemStation, OpenLab

Main Results and Discussion

Across all six examples, Intuvo delivered nearly identical retention times, peak shapes and signal-to-noise ratios compared to the 7890 system. Highlights include:

• EPA Method 8270D semivolatiles: average relative retention time difference of 0.0006.
• Light petroleum sulfur: 23-component standard with detection limits near 2 ppb and overlapping chromatograms.
• Pesticides in food: complex matrices protected by the Guard Chip without altering chromatographic performance.
• E-liquid components: nicotine calibration curves with R2 > 0.999 and maximum retention time shifts < 0.03 min.
• Diesel in motor oil (ASTM D7593): five real samples showed relative standard deviations below 2.5 % for both systems.
• Thermally labile pesticides (endrin, DDT): lowering the bus temperature from 320 °C to 260 °C reduced breakdown to under 10 %.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The Intuvo 9000 GC system simplifies fluidics with no transfer line connections, reducing maintenance and saving bench space. Identical method parameters ensure rapid deployment in QA/QC, environmental monitoring, food safety and petrochemical laboratories. The Guard Chip extends column life with dirty samples, while the Jumper Chip suits high-purity analyses.

Future Trends and Potential Applications

As laboratories seek further automation and flexibility, future developments may include integrated headspace or trap modules, AI-driven method translation tools, and expanded detector options. Continued optimization of bus temperature control will enhance analysis of thermally labile compounds.

Conclusion

Transferring GC methods from a conventional Agilent 7890 system to the compact Intuvo 9000 platform is straightforward and preserves analytical performance across a wide range of applications. Default chip settings and matching inlet, column and detector parameters ensure nearly identical results, enabling laboratories to modernize their workflows without revalidation burdens.

Reference

• 1. E. Denoyer, R. Veeneman. Simplyfying Method Translation, Agilent Technologies Technical Overview, publication number 5991-9149EN, April 2018.
• 2. M. Giardina. Analysis of Semivolatile Organic Compounds Using the Agilent Intuvo 9000 Gas Chromatograph, Agilent Technologies Application Note, publication number 5991-7256EN, September 2016.
• 3. R. Veeneman. Detection of Sulfur Compounds in Light Petroleum Liquids According to ASTM D5623 with the Agilent Dual Plasma Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector and the Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC, Agilent Technologies Application Note, publication number 5991-7215EN, September 2016.
• 4. R. Veeneman, J. Stevens. Multiresidue Pesticide Analysis with the Agilent 9000 GC and Agilent 7000 Series Mass Spectrometer, Agilent Technologies Application Note, publication number 5991-7216EN, September 2016.
• 5. F. David, et al. Determination of Nicotine, Propylene Glycol, and Glycerol in E-Liquids According to ISO/CD 20714 Using the Agilent 9000 Intuvo GC, Agilent Technologies Application Note, publication number 5991-8990EN, 2018.
• 6. ASTM D7593-14. Standard Test Method for Determination of Fuel Dilution for In-Service Engine Oils by Gas Chromatography, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2014.
• 7. J. McCurry, K. Beard. ASTM D7593 – Analysis of Diesel for In-Service Motor Oils, Agilent Technologies Application Brief, publication number 5991-9279EN, April 2018.
• 8. K. Beard, J. McCurry. Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Diesel Fuel Dilution for In-Service Motor Oil Using ASTM Method D7593, Agilent Technologies Application Note, publication number 5991-9278EN, April 2018.