Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced the launch of the Agilent Altura Poroshell 120 PFAS LC column family, setting a new standard in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) analysis. These high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns overcome the challenges of ultrashort-chain (USC) PFAS quantification and enable efficient single-injection, full-panel analysis of C1–C18 PFAS in routine LC/MS workflows.
Stricter regulations, especially for short-chain and USC PFAS in drinking water and environmental matrices, are driving a shift from legacy C8 testing to broader C1–C18 panels. At the same time, laboratories are under growing pressure to boost throughput and reduce solvent and consumable use, all while maintaining high data quality and regulatory defensibility. Together, these regulatory and operational challenges accelerate demand for complete, vendor-supported PFAS workflows, rather than fragmented methods from multiple suppliers.
“The tightening regulatory requirements and rapid expansion of PFAS testing requires enhanced precision and throughput,” said David Edwards, vice president and general manager of the Chemistries Division at Agilent. “Agilent Altura Poroshell 120 PFAS columns were developed to meet that need—delivering up to 40% improvement in resolution for C1–C13 PFAS (based on internal benchmarking) and enabling single-injection C1–C18 analysis to streamline PFAS workflows and reduce reruns.”
Altura Poroshell 120 PFAS columns are purpose-built for reliable performance, boasting excellent peak shape, robust quantitative performance, reproducible retention times, and low system backpressure. Backed by in-house expertise, Agilent Altura Ultra Inert hardware and proprietary column chemistry ensure consistent run-to-run performance for drinking water and other clean matrices.
This technology facilitates single-injection analysis of C1–C18 PFAS in practical runtimes and enhances separation of C1–C3 USC compounds from matrix and system background. Support for dilute-and-shoot workflows, including large-volume injections (> 30 µL) of high-organic extracts, eliminates the need for complex pH gradients or high-salt methods. Short, efficient gradients and straightforward methods further reduce troubleshooting and minimize solvent use, lowering operational costs and promoting sustainability.
Along with a suite of complimentary products—from LC/MS systems and software to consumables—Altura Poroshell 120 PFAS columns give labs greater confidence in their PFAS analysis and data quality while directly supporting cleaner water and safer environments. This release underscores Agilent’s commitment to advancing PFAS workflows with expert support and timely, single-vendor solutions for evolving analytical demands.