Purge and Trap

First off, despite what this is labelled as, it is not an Agilent Product as the previous reviewer labelled it. It is a Teledyne Tekmar AtomX XYZ purge and trap autosampler. It is serviced by Agilent, but that is about as far as the associations go. Like all Purge and Trap Autosamplers, the underlying technology is mostly unchanged in the last 20+ years. Anyone having used one will be familiar with it's workings. This is the newest version of the AtomX line. Sadly, it is at the very best a lateral "upgrade" over its predecessor. In my opinion, the only advantage it has is it's 84 positions as opposed to the 80 of the original AtomX. The XYZ in the name refers of course to its use of an arm and gripper to retrieve and run vials. This is not an upgrade over the extremely dependable and robust carousel that the original sported. This technology is used as Teledyne was recently acquired by CETAC which is the real manufacturer of the arm system in use. Unfortunately, it is not as robust a system as one would like. It is prone to gripper malfunctions and relatively rapid wear and tear. Specifically the gas system used to power the pneumatics are unmonitored, and crucially, not integrated into the overall gas management system. This means that when one of the small plastic connections leaks, there will be no warning or way to stop the leak other than at the gas source, as powering off the system will not interrupt the flow as it is connected before the flow controller. Also, it should be noted that those small connectors are not sold by Tekmar, and if you do not replace them from a third party, you will have to buy an entire gripper assembly. Other questionable engineering decisions include a 90 degree elbow at the base of the waste collector which connects via solid tubing running below but level and parallel to the main boards. This then creates back pressure causing the waste to sit stagnant and prone to algae growth and blockages. However the solution is both hilarious and so obvious it beggars belief. Instead of piping the waste around the system on the right side, it could easily have been drained via a tube directly to the left, straight through the back and down. This not only keeps waste water from sensitive electronics, it provides a constant slope to allow for perfect drainage. Other common issues is the 7 port valve which previously lasted on average 2-3 years, now averages about 6 months. The 25mL syringe is also prone to leaking more so than the previous model. There are also a few additional connections in the trap system that require monitoring for leaks that did not exist previously. If it seems that i am all doom and gloom with this new instrument, know that it is warranted. Since Teledyne has discontinued all support for the AtomX system, forcing users to this new system, it is unfortunately the only option if you wish to use Tekmar, and/or, Agilent for support.

Review Date: 6 May 2025 | Agilent Technologies

Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography analysis is very sensitive and needs to be handled cautiously to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the data produced. However, we find it easy and efficient by using Agilent brand not only because of the excellent performance of the instrument but also excellent after sales technical support. As we open the procurement to purchase openly to all brands, Agilent brand performance excellent evaluation results from all aspects show high confidence for users to operate the instrument.

Review Date: 20 Feb 2024 | Agilent Technologies