Agilent 990 Micro GC Channel PoraPLOT U

Importance of the Topic

The ability to separate and quantify light hydrocarbons, halocarbons, sulfur gases and other volatile compounds is vital across energy, environmental and industrial research. Compact, field-deployable gas chromatography systems accelerate decision-making in biogas monitoring, catalyst testing and process control while maintaining high analytical performance.

Objectives and Study Overview

This datasheet presents the performance and configuration options for Agilent’s PoraPLOT U analytical channel designed for the 990 Micro GC. The focus is on:

• Column chemistry and configurations for hydrocarbon and gas analyses.
• Key performance specifications including resolution, detection limit and repeatability.
• Backflush options to enhance throughput and maintain column integrity.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The PoraPLOT U channel is built around a MEMS-based injector, isothermal capillary column and micromachined thermal conductivity detector (TCD). Key features include:

• Column phase: Porous polymer PoraPLOT U, optimized for C1–C6 separations.
• Column configurations: Straight or backflush (1 m precolumn) layouts in 10 m and 20 m lengths.
• Detector: Dual-channel thermal conductivity detector with 200 nL internal volume and four heated filaments.
• Carrier gas compatibility: He, H2, N2 or Ar at 550 ± 10 kPa.
• Injector: Micromachined, no moving parts, 1–10 µL volume, up to 110 °C.

Main Results and Discussion

Performance was assessed for three channel variants:

• 10 m straight column – resolution (i-C4/n-C4) ~2.0, detection limit ~2 ppm, repeatability <1 % RSD.
• 10 m with 1 m backflush – resolution ~1.8, similar detection and repeatability.
• 20 m with 1 m backflush – resolution ~2.5, maintaining low ppm detection and <1 % RSD.

Backflush operation effectively removes heavier C6+ compounds, preserving column performance and reducing run times. The channel excels in full separation of ethane, ethylene and acetylene but does not resolve propane/propylene.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The PoraPLOT U channel on the 990 Micro GC delivers:

• Rapid, isothermal analyses ideal for field or laboratory settings.
• Robust separation of light hydrocarbons, halocarbons, sulfur gases and solvents.
• Flexible configuration with up to four independent channels per instrument.
• Low detection limits (ppm range) and high repeatability for quality-critical environments.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advancements in microfabrication and column chemistry may yield:

• New stationary phases tailored to emerging environmental and industrial analytes.
• Integrated pretreatment modules for moisture or particulate removal.
• Enhanced on-board data analytics and wireless connectivity for real-time monitoring.
• Further miniaturization to expand portable GC applications in remote or on-site diagnostics.

Conclusion

Agilent’s PoraPLOT U channels for the 990 Micro GC combine MEMS-based design with versatile column chemistries to deliver fast, reliable separations of light gases and hydrocarbons. Backflush options enhance longevity and throughput, making this solution well suited for demanding QA/QC, research and field analysis tasks.

References

No external literature references provided in the original datasheet.