Agilent Announces Enhanced 8700 LDIR Chemical Imaging System for Microplastics Analysis
October 03 2022 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Increased testing capacity will provide greater understanding
of microplastics contamination in the environment
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the release
of its enhanced 8700 LDIR Chemical Imaging System, which has been
further optimized for the analysis of microplastics in
environmental samples. This newly improved package includes Clarity
1.5 software – a significant upgrade that advances the speed of
analysis, enhances spectral acquisition, transformation, and
library matching, and provides automated workflows for direct
analysis of microplastics on a filter substrate. An innovative,
redesigned sample holder allows the on-filter sample to be
presented to the instrument more easily and consistently.
The prevalence of microplastics in the environment is a growing
concern worldwide, prompting greater scrutiny from governments and
increased monitoring of rivers and oceans by environmental
agencies. Adequately assessing the prevalence of microplastics in
the environment requires researchers to determine the size, shape,
and chemical identity of plastic particles in a sample. As smaller
particles are thought to be the most biologically relevant, this
analysis must extend to particles on the micron scale.
Slow and complex analysis solutions are a major challenge to
microplastics analysis and have hindered studies of real-world
systems. Additionally, method variability limits the comparability
of studies, making trends difficult to assess. Vibrational
spectroscopy methods such as FTIR and Raman microscopy provide a
useful alternative, but each faces limitations due to the excessive
time of analysis and method complexity.
The Agilent 8700 LDIR brings high-speed analysis and ease of use
to infrared spectroscopy and has rapidly emerged as the benchmark
technique for the analysis of microplastics particles. The
development of on-filter analysis for this platform marks another
leap forward in speed and throughput. The ability to significantly
increase testing volumes will allow a greater understanding of the
extent of microplastics contamination in the environment and will
help facilitate the development of appropriate standards and
regulations.
Geoff Winkett, vice president and general manager for Agilent’s
Molecular Spectroscopy Division, discussed the announcement’s
impact. "When I speak with microplastics researchers, a recurring
question is how to make testing faster and easier, as there is a
real concern that the limited sample numbers that can be
realistically processed may be masking the true nature of the
issue," he said. "The fact is that other currently available
techniques are too slow and cannot capture the extent of the
microplastics load in drinking and environmental waters. Fast and
easy-to-use analysis methods such as the 8700 LDIR provide an
essential and much-needed alternative that enables researchers to
increase sampling over area or time to address these
limitations."
As a leading provider of analytical solutions for food and
environmental analysis, Agilent is committed to delivering
technology that improves user outcomes for academic research
settings and commercial testing facilities. The release of the
enhanced 8700 LDIR is expected to strengthen its leadership
position in this growing market.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is a global leader in the
life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets,
delivering insight and innovation that advance the quality of life.
Agilent’s full range of solutions includes instruments, software,
services, and expertise that provide trusted answers to our
customers' most challenging questions. The company generated
revenue of $6.32 billion in fiscal 2021 and employs 17,000 people
worldwide. Information about Agilent is available at
www.agilent.com. To receive the latest Agilent news, please
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Naomi Goumillout Agilent Technologies +1.781.266.2819
naomi.goumillout@agilent.com
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