Introducing the New Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS; Improved Performance for Speciated Analysis

Significance of the topic

Speciated analysis by ICP-MS enables identification and quantification of individual chemical forms of elements that differ in toxicity or bioavailability. Enhanced performance in interference removal and sensitivity is critical for environmental monitoring, food and drinking water safety, pharmaceutical quality control, and industrial process analysis. Advances in instrumentation broaden the range of measurable species and improve data reliability for routine and research laboratories.

Objectives and overview of the article

This application note presents key developments in the Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS for speciation analysis. It reviews the redesigned octopole reaction system (ORS3) for improved interference reduction, integration with chromatographic separations (HPLC, GC), and demonstration of enhanced detection limits and stability for challenging analytes such as Si, P, S, halogens, organo-tin compounds, arsenic species, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Methodology and instrumentation

The 7700 Series uses a third-generation ORS with helium collision gas to remove polyatomic interferences (e.g., ArCl on As-75, other Ar-based species) without the need for multiple single-element gas modes. A fast frequency-matching RF generator adapts instantly to plasma load changes, enabling stable operation during organic solvent gradients in LC and heated GC transfer lines.

Used instrumentation

• Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS with ORS3 helium collision cell
• Agilent 1200 Series HPLC with MassHunter workstation chromatography software
• Agilent 7890 GC with heated transfer line and GC-ICP-MS interface

Main results and discussion

• Helium collision mode achieved low ppt detection limits for Se-78 and sub-ppt levels for As species with blank counts below 5 ppt LOD.
• In LC-ICP-MS, retention time and peak area precision remained excellent over 20 injections in a 14-hour unattended sequence, demonstrating high reproducibility and long-term stability.
• GC-ICP-MS separation of organo-tin and PBDE congeners at 20–250 ng/mL delivered sharp peaks and full recovery, even for high-mass compounds such as DecaBDE.
• Direct quantification of P, Si, S, and halogens was enabled at trace levels, supporting analysis of pesticide residues, fuel sulfur species, biogas siloxanes, and halogenated flame retardants.

Benefits and practical applications

• Simplified method development through single-mode helium collision operation.
• High matrix tolerance and compound-independent calibration reduce uncertainty and streamline QA/QC workflows.
• Compatibility with common HPLC mobile phases and GC conditions supports broad application scope from environmental samples to clinical and petrochemical analysis.
• Integrated software enables real-time data review, outlier flagging, and compound-independent calibration for robust speciation workflows.

Future trends and opportunities

Ongoing developments may include advanced reaction cell chemistries for further interference control, automation of sample preparation and valve switching, deeper integration with novel separation techniques (e.g., capillary electrophoresis, microflow LC), and expansion of speciation protocols for emerging contaminants such as nanoparticles, PFAS, and complex metalloproteins.

Conclusion

The Agilent 7700 Series ICP-MS with ORS3 collision cell and frequency-matching RF generator delivers enhanced interference removal, sensitivity, and stability for speciation analysis. Its seamless integration with HPLC and GC workflows, combined with advanced software support, provides a versatile platform for routine and research-scale speciation challenges.

Reference

Agilent Publication 5989-6160EN, Handbook of Hyphenated ICP-MS Applications, First Edition, © Agilent Technologies