Agilent 7200B Series GC/Q-TOF

Importance of Topic

The Agilent 7200B Series GC/Q-TOF represents a major advance in gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, providing high-resolution, accurate-mass analysis that addresses the growing demand for reliable identification and quantitation of target and non-target compounds in complex matrices.

Study Objectives and Overview

This overview collates the design features, performance data, and application examples of the Agilent 7200B GC/Q-TOF, demonstrating its capabilities for routine quantitative work, structural elucidation, and untargeted screening across diverse fields such as environmental analysis, food safety, metabolomics, and forensics.

Used Instrumentation

• Agilent 7200B Series GC/Q-TOF coupled to an Agilent 7890B GC with backflush-ready configuration
• Electron Ionization (EI) and Chemical Ionization (CI) sources
• 4 GHz analog-to-digital converter electronics with dual-gain amplifiers
• InVAR flight tube for thermal stability
• Hexapole collision cell for high-quality MS/MS
• Agilent MassHunter software suite (Qualitative Analysis, Unknowns Analysis, Mass Profiler Professional)

Methodology and Experimental Setup

All systems are equipped for both EI and CI, covering m/z 50–3000 with mass accuracy better than 3 ppm RMS. A removable ion source allows rapid maintenance without venting. Internal reference mass (IRM) locking ensures stable mass calibration under variable chromatographic conditions. Backflush capability and hot hyperbolic quadrupole elements reduce contamination and maintain performance.

Main Results and Discussion

• Mass resolution of 13 500 (FWHM) enables separation of ions differing by 0.043 Da at m/z 240.
• Average mass error of 0.95 ppm over 50 OFN injections spanning 5 hours, demonstrating exceptional stability.
• Linear dynamic range from low pg on-column to high ng levels with simultaneous low-gain and high-gain detection.
• High-resolution MS/MS simplifies deconvolution of complex fragmentation pathways for unknowns (e.g., a-cubebene).
• Software-assisted workflows allow creation of accurate-mass libraries, retrospective data mining, and chemometric modeling (e.g., pesticide screening, olive oil classification, yeast sterol metabolism, forensic heroin profiling).

Benefits and Practical Application

The 7200B GC/Q-TOF streamlines qualitative and quantitative workflows by combining comprehensive compound coverage with accurate mass confirmation. It supports multi-target and non-target screening without sample reruns, facilitates library building, and integrates seamlessly with chemometric tools for prediction modeling.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Emerging directions include integration of AI-driven spectral interpretation, expansion of retrospective non-target analysis across omics studies, coupling with advanced sampling techniques (e.g., thermal probes, direct insertion), and application in real-time environmental and process monitoring.

Conclusion

The Agilent 7200B Series GC/Q-TOF delivers unparalleled mass accuracy, resolution, and MS/MS selectivity in a robust, easy-to-maintain platform. Its versatility and software ecosystem enable confident identification and quantitation in challenging analytical scenarios, positioning it as a future-proof solution for comprehensive GC/MS analysis.

References

• Olive Oil Characterization using Agilent GC/Q-TOF MS and Mass Profiler Professional Software: Pub No. 5991-0106EN
• Metabolic Profiling of Yeast Sterols Using the Agilent 7200 Series GC/QTOF System: Pub No. 5991-0571EN
• Characterization and Classification of Heroin from Illicit Drug Seizures Using the Agilent 7200 GC/Q-TOF: Pub No. 5991-4369EN
• Metabolomics of Carbon-Fixing Mutants of Cyanobacteria by GC/Q-TOF: Pub No. 5991-3476EN
• Thevis et al., Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2013, 27:1173