Agilent 990 Micro gas chromatography systems

Importance of the Topic

Gas composition analysis is central to applications in energy production, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control. Rapid and reliable chromatographic methods enable field and laboratory users to make timely decisions on resource exploration, process efficiency, and safety compliance.

Objectives and Overview of the Study

The Agilent 990 Micro GC family was developed to deliver fast, high‐quality gas analyses in both fixed and mobile settings. Key aims include minimization of footprint and power consumption, ease of use, and adaptability to a variety of gas streams such as natural gas, biogas, refinery off‐gases, and process emissions.

Methodology

The micro gas chromatograph design integrates micromachined injectors and thermal conductivity detectors (μTCD) with modular GC channels. Silicon fabricated injectors eliminate moving parts for enhanced reliability, support software‐selectable injection times, and enable backflush to protect columns. The μTCD features a low internal volume (200 nL) to reduce peak broadening and achieve detection limits down to 0.5 ppm on WCOT capillary columns. Columns span molecular sieve, PLOT, and various bonded phases for separation of permanent gases, hydrocarbons, aromatics, solvents, and odorants.

Instrumentation Used

• Agilent 990 Micro GC: bench‐top modular system with up to four channels, touchscreen interface, and onboard diagnostics.
• Agilent 990 Mobile Micro GC: rugged portable field case with integrated gas cylinders and 16 h battery life.
• Agilent 990 PRO Micro GC: online process control version with communication protocols (Modbus, FTP, 4–20 mA) and full unattended operation.
• Accessories: micro‐gasifier for LPG/LNG evaporation, syringe‐injection inlet, Genie membrane filters, Beswick pressure reducers, automated stream selection valves, and optional touch‐screen display.

Main Results and Discussion

The 990 series achieves complete separation of key components in seconds, consuming less carrier gas and power than traditional benchtop GCs. Typical analysis times under two minutes allow 17 refinery gases to be quantified with high reproducibility. Onboard diagnostics and wireless connectivity facilitate remote monitoring and fault detection, while plug‐and‐play channel replacement reduces maintenance downtime to under 10 minutes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Natural Gas Analysis: precise determination of composition and calorific value for custody transfer and process optimization.
• Biogas Monitoring: factory‐tuned systems for rapid evaluation of methane content and impurities.
• Refinery Gas Monitoring: on‐line catalytic reactor control and odorant tracking in distribution pipelines.
• Field Deployments: portable GC for perimeter monitoring, drilling sites, and environmental surveys without reliance on external power or computers.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Advances in microfabrication, data analytics, and wireless instrumentation will further enhance portability and autonomy of gas analyzers. Integration with cloud platforms and machine‐learning algorithms promises predictive maintenance and real‐time process optimization. Development of new stationary phases and miniaturized detectors may extend analysis capabilities to trace reactive gases and volatile organics.

Conclusion

The Agilent 990 Micro GC systems represent a flexible, high‐performance solution for rapid gas chromatography in both laboratory and field environments. Their compact design, modular architecture, and intelligent diagnostics deliver actionable data with minimal downtime, supporting diverse applications in the energy, environmental, and process industries.