Inlet Liners

Inlet Liners for Gas Chromatography

Agilent’s extensive portfolio of GC inlet liners, O-rings, and injector port seals is engineered to maintain a clean, inert, and precisely controlled environment during sample introduction. These components work together to ensure rapid, complete volatilization and reliable transfer of analytes onto the analytical column—one of the most critical steps in achieving accurate, reproducible chromatography.

The inlet liner plays a central role by isolating the sample flow path from the metal walls of the injector block, reducing unwanted interactions and preventing analyte loss. Differences in liner geometry—such as taper style, chamber design, or internal packing (e.g., glass wool)—directly influence vaporization efficiency, sensitivity, and discrimination. Selecting the right liner is essential to ensure all analytes vaporize uniformly before entering the column.

Agilent provides optimized liner designs for every major GC inlet configuration, including S/SL (Split/Splitless), MMI (Multimode), PTV (Programmed Temperature Vaporization), and HS (Headspace) systems. Whether your workflow demands high sensitivity, reduced matrix activity, or robust performance across varied sample types, Agilent’s inlet liners deliver consistent, high-quality results.

Agilent Ultra Inert Liners

Image Description Volume (µL) ID (mm) EA 5/pk 25/pk 100/pk*
SPLIT INLET LINERS
Low pressure drop UI liner Low pressure drop, Ultra Inert liner w/ glass wool 870 4 5190-2295 5190-3165 5190-3169 5190-3173
Straight UI liner w/ glass wool Straight, Ultra Inert liner with glass wool 990 4 5190-2294 5190-3164 5190-3168 5190-3172
SPLITLESS INLET LINERS
Single taper UI liner Single taper, Ultra Inert liner 900 4 5190-2292 5190-3162 5190-3166 5190-3170
Single taper UI liner w/ glass wool Single taper, Ultra Inert liner w/ glass wool 900 4 5190-2293 5190-3163 5190-3167 5190-3171
Splitless double taper UI liner Splitless, double taper Ultra Inert liner (no wool) 800 4 5190-3983 5190-4007 — —
Dimpled splitless UI liner Dimpled, splitless, Ultra Inert liner 200 2 5190-2297 5190-4006 — —
Straight UI liner Straight, Ultra Inert liner 1 1 5190-4047 — — —
Straight UI liner for SPME Straight Ultra Inert liner for SPME 0.75 — 5190-4048 — — —

Agilent Original Deactivation Split & Splitless Liners

Image Description Volume (µL) ID (mm) EA 5/pk 25/pk 100/pk
SINGLE TAPER SPLIT LINERS
liner image Single taper, glass wool, deactivated, low pressure drop 870 4 5183-4647 5183-4701 5183-4702 5190-2275
liner image Single taper, glass wool, deactivated 870 4 5183-4711 5183-4712 5183-4713 —
SINGLE TAPER SPLITLESS LINERS
liner image Single taper, deactivated 900 4 5181-3316 5183-4695 5183-4696 5190-2270
liner image Single taper, inert 900 4 5181-3316i — — —
liner image Single taper, glass wool, deactivated 900 4 5062-3587 5183-4693 5183-4694 5190-2271
STRAIGHT SPLIT LINERS
Straight, glass wool, non-deactivated 990 4 19251-60540 5183-4691 5183-4692 —
STRAIGHT SPLITLESS LINERS
Straight, deactivated, quartz 250 2 5181-8818 5183-4703 5183-4704 —
Straight, non-deactivated, quartz 250 2 18740-80220 5183-4707 5183-4708 —
Straight, non-deactivated 990 4 210-3003 210-3003-5 — —
FOCUS SPLIT LINERS
Deactivated with glass wool 935 4 — 210-4004-5 — —
Tapered, deactivated with glass wool 880 4 — 210-4022-5 — —
DOUBLE TAPER SPLITLESS LINERS
Double taper, deactivated 800 4 5181-3315 5183-4705 5183-4706 5190-2272
DIRECT INLET SPLITLESS LINERS
Straight, non-deactivated (for gas samples, headspace, or purge & trap) 140 1.5 18740-80200 5183-4709 5183-4710 —
Key Definitions â–¸
GC Inlet Liner
A precision-formed glass or quartz tube installed inside the GC inlet to promote reproducible sample vaporization and efficient transfer of analytes onto the column. The liner’s geometry, volume, and surface chemistry directly influence peak shape, sensitivity, and overall chromatographic performance.
Deactivation
A surface treatment applied to glass or quartz liners to prevent adsorption and degradation of active or polar analytes. Deactivated liners improve recovery, maintain inert flow paths, and reduce discrimination effects during injection.
Glass Wool Packing
A small plug of inertized glass fibers placed inside the liner to promote mixing, trap non-volatile residue, and support reproducible vaporization. Ideal for split injections or samples containing particulates.
Split Injection
A GC inlet mode in which only a portion of the injected sample enters the column, allowing optimal peak shape for concentrated samples. Split-optimized liners are designed to handle higher vapor volumes and maintain linearity.
Splitless Injection
An inlet mode used for trace-level analyses where the entire vaporized sample is transferred to the column. Splitless liners often feature tapered designs to minimize backflash and improve analyte focusing at the column head.
Backflash
When sample vapor expands beyond the liner’s internal volume and contaminates upstream components such as septa or carrier-gas lines. Choosing the correct liner volume helps avoid carryover, ghost peaks, and instability.
Liner Geometry
The structural design of a liner—straight, single taper, double taper, dimpled, or baffled—which dictates flow patterns, analyte focusing, and volatilization efficiency. Selecting the appropriate geometry is essential for method reproducibility.
Frequently Asked Questions â–¸
How do I choose the right GC inlet liner?
Select a liner based on injection mode, sample cleanliness, analyte volatility, and the geometry best suited for your inlet type. Proper liner choice improves vaporization efficiency and peak shape.
Why is liner deactivation important?
Deactivation minimizes adsorption, degradation, and discrimination of active or polar compounds — essential for accurate quantitation and reproducible results.
When should I use a liner with glass wool?
Glass wool assists vaporization, supports dirty samples, and improves mixing. For active analytes or trace-level work, no-wool options may reduce adsorption.
How often should GC inlet liners be replaced?
Typically every 100–200 injections for routine samples. Replace more frequently for dirty matrices or if you observe tailing peaks, carryover, or sensitivity loss.
What symptoms indicate a contaminated inlet liner?
Look for distorted peaks, adsorption of early-eluting compounds, ghost peaks, increased bleed, or reduced response — all common when a liner needs replacement.