A Customer Success Story – Improving Washout and Efficiency in a High-Throughput ICP-MS Testing Laboratory with the PCC Kit

One of the major challenges an ICP laboratory faces is the excessive washout time required for methods analyzing samples containing high levels of elements such as B and Hg, which tend to "stick" around in the sample introduction system. These "sticky" elements frequently require extended washout times and are typically followed by multiple rinse blanks to flush the system back down to reporting limits and, in some cases, down to method or even instrument detection limits. If there is an inadequate amount of rinse time, these high-concentration samples can frequently require a lab to rerun or flag samples analyzed after a sample containing high levels of elements like B and Hg.

Webinar Key Objectives:

• Review the design of Glass Expansion's high-performance Peltier-cooled cyclonic spray chamber (PCC Kit) and Jet Vortex Interface (JVI) for the Agilent® ICP-MS.
• Nebulizer selection and optimal pairing with the PCC Kit and your Agilent® ICP-MS.
• Evaluate washout data collected using a real-world sample containing more than 4 ppm of Boron to compare the washout efficiency at a high-throughput environmental laboratory, resulting in a 61% improvement.

View Webinar, presented by Randy Mercurio:

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Download Application Note

This application note provides an in-depth review of the PCC Kit contents and key advantages, as well as a complete review of the data collected to produce our webinar. Additional details include the Agilent® 7900 CP-MS and PCC Kit operating conditions used for data collection under EPA methods 200.8 and 6020.

Click the image below to view the application note:

Click the image below to view PCC Flyer:

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Ordering Information

Shown above, P/N KT-1212Q, PCC Quartz Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7850, 7900, 8900 with Actuator Mount

Part Number	Description
KT-1212Q	PCC Quartz Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7850, 7900, 8900 with Actuator Mount
KT-1116	PCC Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7850, 7900, 8900
KT-1116Q	PCC Quartz Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7850, 7900, 8900
KT-1116P	PCC PFA Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7850, 7900, 8900
KT-1206	PCC Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7700, 7800, 8800
KT-1206Q	PCC Quartz Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7700, 7800, 8800
KT-1206P	PCC PFA Spray Chamber for Agilent® 7700, 7800, 8800

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Customer comments

"With the PCC Kit (Agilent 7850), our LODs and LOQs for high mass element isotopes like ¹¹¹Cd and ²⁰¹Hg are lowered on average by 5x into sub-ppb level concentrations compared to the Scot-style spray chamber."

Contract Laboratory, USA

"For our particular application this PCC kit was a great improvement. On specific cases that required four (or more) blank runs to bring the boron level to baseline now we can do it two or one blank run. This allowed us to increase sample throughput by about 50%."

Specialty Chemicals Manufacturer - USA

In reference to PCC Kit installed on Agilent 7900 — "More Internal Standard "consistency" in day-to-day operation, meaning that Internal Standard recoveries are more tightly grouped at the set Cal 0 CPS values (assuming no harsh matrices drastically impact said recoveries)."

Commercial Environmental Testing Laboratory, USA

In reference to PCC Kit installed on Agilent 7900 — "Boron, Manganese and other "sticky" analytes continue to have much less carryover when compared to the other instruments that have the Scot Style spray chambers running similar matrices."

Commercial Environmental Testing Laboratory, USA

"We have the PCC Kit installed (Agilent 8800) and everything is looking great so far. Our stabilization time once the valve switches to “Inject” is about 1/3 of what it was before."

State Government Agency, USA

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Benefits of the PCC Design Include...

Faster Washout

The unique design of Glass Expansion's cyclonic spray chamber minimizes washout time with highly concentrated samples and troublesome elements, such as B, Hg, Pb and Sb compared to the standard Scott-style spray chamber.

Jet Vortex Interface (JVI™) – Aerosol Filtration

A patent pending, novel design provides highly-efficient Aerosol Filtration. With a simple and straightforward installation, the JVI works in conjunction with the existing "Make-Up" or "Dilution/Option" gas of your ICP-MS.

• Compatible with your existing method settings for HMI and UHMI (7850/7900/8900).
• Chemically inert, made from Teflon® (PTFE).
• Secure connection to gas supply, spray chamber, and transfer tube.
• Improved life of torch & interface cones.
• Reduced build-up on injector & interface cones.
• More robust plasma conditions.

Helix CT Interface

Glass Expansion's cyclonic spray chambers all feature the Helix CT locking screw, which allows for a consistent inert PTFE seal against the nebulizer - making it impossible to overtighten while ensuring a gas-tight seal and optimum nebulizer installation each and every time.

• A positive stop to ensure that the nebulizer is inserted to the correct and optimum depth within the spray chamber.
• Significantly reduces dead volume around the nebulizer.
• Only nebulizer interface that delivers a ConstantTorque seal providing unparalleled, reproducible day-to-day analytical performance.
• Tracey™ design provides best sensitivity, reproducibility and lowest memory effects.

Fore more information visit our Helix CT landing page.

Interchangeable Cyclonic Spray Chambers

The PCC Kit provides the ability to easily interchange between a glass, quartz, or PFA Helix CT cyclonic spray chambers.

• Glass provides lower cost option where low-level Boron measurements are not required.
• High purity Quartz, the most common option, required for low-level Boron measurements.
• High purity PFA, for applications with a hydrofluoric acid matrix and ultra-trace ICP-MS analyses (paired optimally with the OpalMist DC nebulizer).
• The interior of the Tracey PFA spray chamber has the proprietary Stediflow surface treatment, which improves the wettability of the surface and ensures efficient drainage. Without the Stediflow treatment, droplets tend to form on the surface and degrade both sensitivity and precision.

Fast and Simple Installation

The PCC Kit connects directly to the existing electronics and water-cooling system of the Agilent® ICP-MS. A convenient mounting bracket is also included that allows for fast and simple installation on the Agilent® ICP-MS.

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Installation Guide for ICP-MS Semi-Demountable Torch and PCC Kit (KT-1116Q)

This video will provide an installation guide for proper assembly and installation of Glass Expansion's semi-demountable torch and PCC Kit on the Agilent® ICP-MS.