Agilent Technologies 8860 Site Preparation Guide

7 Gas Selection and Plumbing
Gas and Reagent Selection
40 Site Preparation Guide
Gas and Reagent Selection
Table 12 lists gases usable with Agilent GCs and capillary columns. When used with capillary
columns, GC detectors require a separate makeup gas for optimum sensitivity. The MS and
MSD use GC carrier gas.
If you are using any MS system, use of hydrogen as the carrier gas may require hardware
modifications for the best performance. Contact your Agilent service representative. Hydrogen
is not supported as a carrier gas with the 7200/7250 GC/Q-TOF system.
WARNING
When using hydrogen (H
2
) as the carrier gas or fuel gas, be aware that hydrogen gas can flow
into the GC and create an explosion hazard. Therefore, be sure that the supply is turned off
until all connections are made and ensure the inlet and detector column fittings are either
connected to a column or capped at all times when hydrogen gas is supplied to the
instrument.
Hydrogen is flammable. Leaks, when confined in an enclosed space, may create a fire or
explosion hazard. In any application using hydrogen, periodically leak test all connections,
lines, and valves before operating the instrument or after maintenance. Always turn off the
hydrogen supply at its source before working on the instrument.
Please refer to the Hydrogen Safety Guide shipped with your instrument.
Hydrogen use is specifically prohibited with the 7200 or 7250 GC/Q-TOF system.
NOTE
Nitrogen and Argon/Methane are generally not suitable for GC/MS carrier gas.
Table 12 Gases usable with Agilent GCs and capillary columns
Detector type Carrier Preferred makeup Alternate choice
Detector, anode
purge, or reference
Electron capture (ECD) Hydrogen
Helium
Nitrogen
Argon/Methane (5%)
Nitrogen Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Argon/Methane (5%)
Nitrogen
Anode purge must be
same as makeup
Flame ionization (FID) Hydrogen
Helium
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Helium
Helium
Helium
Hydrogen and air for
detector
Flame photometric (FPD) Hydrogen
Helium
Nitrogen
Argon
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Hydrogen and air for
detector
Nitrogen-Phosphorus (NPD) Helium
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Helium
*
Helium
Hydrogen and air for
detector

Agilent Technologies 8860 Specifications

General

Brand	Agilent Technologies
Model	8860
Category	Laboratory Equipment
Language	English