Agilent PAL3 smart syringes - Ordering Guide

Importance of Topic

Automated liquid and headspace sampling in analytical laboratories relies on precise, reliable syringe tools. Proper selection of syringe volume, needle style, plunger type and tool compatibility is essential for minimizing sample carryover, reducing variability, and ensuring process safety in workflows ranging from gas chromatography to LC/MS.

Objectives and Overview

This ordering guide provides a structured catalog of Agilent PAL3 smart syringes and accessories. It details predefined syringe parameters, embedded identification chips, volume ranges, needle and plunger options, and compatible robotic sampling modules. The goal is to simplify procurement and method development by aligning syringe specifications with application requirements.

Methodology and Instrumentation

All smart syringes include an on-board read/write chip that stores serial number, usage data and key performance parameters. The PAL3 autosampler system automatically recognizes each syringe and applies the correct settings. Key features:

• Tool compatibility: RTC (robotic tool change) and RSI (robotic sample injection).
• Needle styles: conical (non-coring), flat (blunt), sideport.
• Needle lengths: 57 mm, 65 mm (headspace), 85 mm, on-column COC inlet.
• Needle types: fixed direct-attach, glue-free cemented (for headspace), spring-retained removable.
• Plunger materials: stainless steel, tungsten-wire extension (plunger-in-needle), PTFE gas-tight, PE gas-tight.
• Needle gauges and internal diameters selected for low dead volume or high throughput.

Used Instrumentation:

• Agilent PAL3 autosampler with RTC/RSI modules
• Liquid-handling syringe tools (D7, D8, D18 series)
• Headspace syringe tools (HS1000, HS2500, HS5000)
• On-column injection tool (COC-AGI)
• ITEX dynamic headspace kit
• LC/MS syringe tool (LCMS-P-100, LCMS-P-250)
• Single/multistream dilutor module

Main Results and Discussion

The guide covers smart syringes for liquid sampling across volume ranges from 0.5 µL to 10 mL, including fixed and removable needle versions. Headspace tools support syringes up to 5 mL with cemented needles for inertness at elevated temperatures. On-column injection syringes use multi-taper COC needles for direct inlet insertion. The ITEX kit integrates a 1.3 mL high-density syringe with Tenax TA traps for dynamic headspace extraction. LC/MS sampling syringes feature threaded ports for direct interface, and a multistream dilutor accommodates precise dilution up to 10 mL.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Embedded chip technology streamlines set-up and prevents parameter mismatch.
• Wide selection of needle and plunger materials addresses chemical compatibility and dead-volume concerns.
• Fixed-needle and removable-needle options enable both high-precision injections and flexible method development.
• Specialty variants (plunger-in-needle, gas-tight) support microvolume or heterogeneous samples.
• Comprehensive tool compatibility reduces inventory complexity.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advances in syringe design may include further miniaturization for sub-microliter dosing, integration of real-time wear monitoring, and expansion of inert coatings for challenging matrices. Smart diagnostics within the syringe chip could enable predictive maintenance and automated method validation. Broader adoption of digital inventory management and cloud-based tracking will enhance laboratory efficiency.

Conclusion

The Agilent PAL3 smart syringe portfolio offers a unified solution for diverse sampling needs. By combining embedded intelligence with a modular approach to needle, plunger and tool compatibility, laboratories can achieve consistent, high-performance automated sampling and simplify method transfers across analytical platforms.

Reference

No external references provided in the source document.