Agilent launches triple quadrupole mass spectrometer

The 6470 Triple Quadrupole LC/MS was unveiled at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics.

The 6470 delivers attogram-level sensitivity and accurate quantitation with up to six orders of linear dynamic range.

It is a mid-range LC Triple Quad and will eventually replace the existing 6460 as customers ramp up to it.

Targeted analysis​

Jim Yano, marketing vice president of Agilent’s Mass Spectrometry Division, told FoodQualityNews food labs would primarily use the machine for targeted analysis.

“The Triple Quad is the best platform for identifying the presence of known targets. It is possible to operate the 6470 for non-targets but the triple quads excel at targeted analysis,” ​he said.

“More sensitivity can be used to prep smaller sample amounts saving time and cost on sample prep or inject less sample since the 6470 is two to three times more sensitive than 6460 for pesticides in food. However this is compound dependent.  ​

“Injecting less will allow customers to run longer between routine cleanings since they are injecting less sample matrix which dirties the system.”​

The 6470 utilizes the same collision cell technology as the 6495 adding to improved performance and an upgrade path to the 6495.

Paired with the 1290 Infinity II LC and multisampler, the 6470 supports high-throughput labs with LC/MS analyses, operation and increased productivity

Smaller sample amounts​

Yano said injecting less of the sample means the system stays clean longer.

“Also, direct injection of sample without sample prep is possible. Because of the sensitivity enhancements over 6460, sample dilution is possible (inject less) resulting in less matrix and allowing for neat calibration curve saving time and money.”​

Customers want to increase the number of compounds they can quantify in one analysis, said Yano.

“When you’re looking at 100’s of compounds they don’t all respond equally and so to achieve a calibration over three or four orders for every compound you need the instrument to be operating over a much wider range,” ​he said.

“This is where six orders of dynamic range comes in handy for our multi residue customers.”​

Yano said researchers need to meet stringent quantitation demands, including analytical workflows that require time-consuming sample preparation and complex matrices that may contribute to inconsistent results.

The machine addresses these issues with built-in Jet Stream technology delivers five times the sensitivity of traditional electrospray ionization; enhanced Q1 ion optics with optimized prefilter geometry, increases ion transmission to reduce contamination, claims Agilent.

An ion detector with a high-energy conversion dynode and low nose characteristics, promotes more efficient positive and negative ion detection and mass range, it added.

“Improved MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) algorithm improves data quality at faster speeds allowing for more compounds per analysis with higher data quality. This feature does not require an expert user to take full advantage,” ​said Yano.   ​ ​

“[Also, we have] the user friendly MassHunter interface that is used across all of our mass spectrometers.”   ​

For high-efficiency ion generation and ion sampling, users can add Agilent’s iFunnel technology, transforming the 6470 into a top-of-the-line system without having to buy a new instrument.