Agilent 6820 Gas Chromatograph (Refurbished)

Overview

The Agilent 6820 Gas Chromatograph is a rigorously refurbished, laboratory-grade analytical instrument engineered for high reproducibility and operational reliability in routine chemical analysis. Built on the same core platform as the Agilent 6890 GC, the 6820 delivers identical detector performance specifications—including flame ionization (FID), thermal conductivity (TCD), electron capture (ECD), and nitrogen-phosphorus (NPD) detection—while offering optimized cost-of-ownership for quality control, environmental testing, petrochemical QA/QC, and academic research laboratories. Its modular architecture supports dual independent heated zones for inlet and detector, plus four additional temperature-controlled zones for auxiliary devices such as valve boxes or detector accessories. The system operates on proven gas chromatographic principles: sample volatilization in a precisely regulated injector, separation within a capillary or packed column under controlled carrier gas flow and temperature programming, and compound-specific detection based on physicochemical response mechanisms (e.g., ion current generation in FID, thermal conductivity differential in TCD).

Key Features

• Column oven with programmable temperature range from 4 °C above ambient to 425 °C, supporting up to five independent temperature ramps and step gradients for complex separations.
• Six independently controlled heated zones ensure precise thermal management across injectors, detectors, transfer lines, and optional valves—critical for method transfer and robustness in regulated environments.
• Modular inlet configuration: choice of split/splitless (S/SL) for narrow-bore capillary columns or packed/purged injection port (PPIP) for wide-bore capillaries and packed columns—enabling method flexibility without hardware replacement.
• Fully compatible with Agilent’s full suite of GC detectors (FID, TCD, ECD, NPD), all sharing identical electronic design, sensitivity thresholds, and linearity characteristics as the 6890 platform—ensuring data continuity during instrument upgrades or fleet standardization.
• Integrated self-diagnostics and automated system checks at startup and during operation—reducing downtime and supporting GLP-compliant instrument qualification (IQ/OQ).
• USB-native interface with optional Ethernet (LAN) expansion for networked deployment into Agilent Cerity NDS for Chemical QA/QC—a validated, audit-trail-enabled data system compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when configured with appropriate user access controls and electronic signature protocols.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The 6820 GC accommodates a broad spectrum of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds—including hydrocarbons, halogenated solvents, pesticides, residual monomers, and pharmaceutical impurities—when paired with appropriate column chemistries (e.g., DB-5ms, HP-INNOWAX, or packed columns for permanent gases). It meets fundamental performance criteria outlined in ASTM D3606 (gasoline aromatics), ISO 10301 (volatile organic compounds in air), and USP (chromatography system suitability). While the base configuration does not include factory-installed 21 CFR Part 11 compliance features, the Cerity NDS software—when deployed on a validated Windows environment with role-based permissions, electronic signatures, and immutable audit trails—supports GMP/GLP-regulated workflows in pharmaceutical, food safety, and contract testing laboratories.

Software & Data Management

Data acquisition and processing are managed via Agilent Cerity NDS for Chemical QA/QC, a purpose-built chromatography data system designed for high-throughput laboratory environments. The software provides real-time signal monitoring at 100 Hz sampling rate, automated peak integration using customizable algorithms (e.g., valley-to-valley, tangent skim), retention time locking (RTL) for cross-instrument method transfer, and integrated system suitability testing (SST) per USP guidelines. Raw data files (.D format) are stored with embedded metadata—including method parameters, instrument configuration logs, and operator annotations—enabling full traceability. For laboratories requiring multivendor interoperability, the 6820 supports ASCII export and third-party integration via OpenLab CDS drivers or generic .CSV output protocols.

Applications

• Environmental analysis: BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) quantification in soil/water extracts per EPA Method 8021B; chlorinated pesticide screening in agricultural runoff using ECD detection.
• Petrochemical QA/QC: Hydrocarbon group-type analysis (saturates, olefins, aromatics) in gasoline and diesel fuels per ASTM D5186 and D6730.
• Pharmaceutical testing: Residual solvent analysis (Class 2 & 3 solvents) in drug substances per ICH Q3C guidelines using headspace-GC/FID.
• Food & flavor chemistry: Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiling in edible oils via GC-FID with cold-on-column injection.
• Academic research: Method development for chiral separations using cyclodextrin-based capillary columns coupled with NPD for selective amine detection.

FAQ

Is this unit certified as refurbished by Agilent?
No—this is a third-party refurbished instrument. It has undergone full functional validation, leak testing, baseline noise assessment, and detector sensitivity verification per Agilent-recommended procedures. A full calibration report and post-refurbishment performance summary are provided with delivery.
Does the system include a working detector?
Yes—each unit ships with one fully tested detector (FID standard unless otherwise specified). Additional detectors (TCD, ECD, NPD) are available as configurable options with separate validation documentation.
Can the 6820 be upgraded to support modern GC-MS coupling?
No—the 6820 was not designed with mass spectrometer interface ports or vacuum-compatible electronics. For GC-MS applications, Agilent recommends the 5975/5977 series MSD or 7000D/7010 triple quadrupole systems paired with 7890 or 8890 GC platforms.
What consumables are included in the 12-month warranty kit?
The kit contains one Agilent-certified capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm × 0.25 µm DB-5ms), 10 septa, 10 liner O-rings, 5 glass liners (deactivated splitless), and a set of ferrules—sufficient for approximately six months of routine operation under standard QC conditions.
Is remote diagnostics supported?
Yes—via optional LAN connection and Cerity NDS remote client access. Remote troubleshooting requires prior authorization, firewall configuration, and adherence to institutional IT security policies.