mass spectrometers without waste or contact with metal.
Innovative Lab Products for the Life Sciences
High Pressure MicroLoader / Injection Cell
Get Better LC/MS Results . . . and Save Money Too!
Pack your own HPLC capillary columns. Kasil/formamide frit kit included.
Load your samples into mass spectrometers without transfer loss or contact with metallic surfaces.
High Quality
Reliable
High Value
Risk Free
Left: High Pressure model. Center-front: standard model. Right: standard model with integrated magnetic stirplate.
Kasil/formamide frit kit
Included with all our pressure cells. With Kasil 1 and Kasil 1624
The FRIT-KIT, includes: 1.0mL Kasil 1, 1.5mL Kasil 1624, 0.5mL formamide, and a ceramic cleaving tool to cut the fused silica capillaries.
Transparent Capillary Loader Look inside while packing your column!
The PC1000, has a transparent body, so you can see the level of packing suspension in the vial. Rated for 1000 psi - sufficient for most column packing applications.
“The pressure injection cell is really handy. I have two in my lab, one for packing capillaries and one for loading samples in my mass spec. Packing my own capillaries saves me hundreds of dollars on each one.”
Dr. Qishan Lin, Director of the Proteomics Core Facility The Center for Functional Genomics, University at Albany, New York
"We have been getting some very high quality results from the column packed by your pressure cell."
Prof. Austin Yang, The University of Maryland
New and improved PC77 Pressure Injection Cell with wider base. Rated for 2500 psi (17,000 kPa). Includes a three-way valve for convenience.
PC8500 Pressure Injection Cell. High pressure version of PC77, rated for 8500 psi (58,000 kPa).
PC77-MAG Pressure injection cell with integrated magnetic stirplate, for convenience and perfect alignment, and 5x2mm stirbar.
PC8500-MAG similar to above with 8500 psi rating.
Orders include an operator's manual, a hex wrench, and 10 additional PTFE ferrules (for 360 to 400um outside diameter capillaries). Accessories such as tubing, capillary, and frit assemblies are available. (Prices do not include shipping or taxes)
Column Packing Hardware Kits. We also stock column packing kits which include what you need in addition to the pressure injection cell to pack your own capillary columns. Each kit includes: HPREG, a high pressure regulator (up to 1500 psi); TBNG10, 10 feet of 1/8 inch diameter stainless steel tubing to connect the cell to the gas cylinder (or other pressure source); CAP-75 10 meters of 75 um inside diameter fused silica capillary and a cleaving tool; and STRBR5X2 small magnetic, Teflon coated (5 x 2 mm) stir bar.
We also carry stainless steel tubing, fused silica capillary, pressure regulators, adapters, and other items you may need with your capillary loader.
"Hey, it works great. I am getting much better resolution since packing my own columns and using the cell to directly inject my samples. The first purchase in a long time that was well worth the money. It is well made and so easy to use. After I purchased the fittings to tie it all together, it’s a snap!"
Dr. Steve Mouton, Northrop Grumman Proteomics, Texas
"We’re saving tons of money packing our own columns. It works great and it’s very user friendly."
Dr. Kimberly McKinney, Carolinas Medical Center, North Carolina
The Pressure Injection Cell, sometimes called a “bomb loader” enables controlled dispensing of small-volume liquid samples. Using high pressure, the pressure injection cell has proved invaluable for two applications: densely packing nanobore capillary columns with solid-phase particles; and precisely infusing microliter samples directly from microcentrifuge tubes into mass spectrometers without additional transfers, wasted sample, or contact with metallic surfaces which adsorb some negatively charged molecules such as peptides with phospho or carboxy groups.
The Pressure Injection Cell holds 1 mL and 2 mL micro-centrifuge tubes as well as 12 x 32 mm glass vials in its central chamber (as shown at right). The assembly can be used on a typical magnetic stirrer, e.g. to keep particles in suspension. The cell needs to be connected to a bottle/tank of compressed gas, such as Helium or Nitrogen. Packing capillary columns requires several hundred to about 1000 psi or sometimes more, and mass spectrometer injections typically require a few hundred psi. This unit is rated for a 2500 psi. 8500 psi units are available.
The Pressure Injection Cells accept various sample tubes, including 0.5 mL, 1.5 mL, and 2.0 mL microcentrifuge tubes and 12 mm diameter glass vials.
Why pay hundreds of dollars per packed capillary column for HPLC? You can pack the columns, of various internal diameters, yourself. The Pressure Injection Cell comes with instructions on how to pack columns and is available as a stand alone unit (with 9 extra ferrules), or as a complete kit with ferrules, 1/8" stainless steel tubing, a spool of capillary, a cleaving tool, and a frit assembly, or as a partial kit.
With the Pressure Injection Cell, load your sample into a mass spectrometer directly from a microcentrifuge or Eppendorf tube and avoid transfer loss. There is no contact with metallic surfaces which would adsorb negatively charged molecules.
The Pressure Injection Cell is made with the finest methods and components, thereby enabling you to acquire very accurate data. The high quality stainless steel fittings and valve are made by Swagelok. The body and cap of the pressure chamber are nickel coated. Special features not found elsewhere include a recess in the cap to allow easy access to the sample tube and a hexagonal shape to help align the cap to the body.
The simple and reliable product design, efficient manufacturing, internet marketing, and our low overhead enable us to sell the Pressure Injection Cells at a price almost 50% less than competitors charge. We don't skimp on quality; we make the best product available. However, we do pass the savings along to our customers.
The Pressure Injection Cell comes with a 30 day money back guarantee and a 2 year warranty.
Features
Easy sample tube removal since the tube protrudes above the bottom section of the pressure injection cell.
O-ring seal at interface ensures no leakage.
Rated for 2500 psi (17,000 kPa), ideal for consistent results with bottled gas.
Available in 8500 psi (56,000 kPa) version
Includes a 3-way valve for easy switching between pressurization and release of pressure
3 bolts tightly clamp the top section to the bottom.
Holds 0.5 to 2 ml microcentrifuge/Eppendorf tubes and 12 x 32 mm (glass) vials.
Includes operator's manual; 10 reusable ferrules for typical (380 µm outside diameter) capillaries (other ferrules are available); and 1.5 mL of Kasil and 0.5 mL of formamide and a cleaving tool for making your own frits.
Available with integrated magnetic stirplate.
Warranty: 2 years parts and labor.
30 day money back guarantee.
Operation
Operationally, the pressure injection cell is analogous to a straw in a juice box. As you apply pressure in the box, the juice will be forced out through the straw.
Likewise, the pressure injection cell is connected to pressurized gas, typically in a tank, as shown on the far right. A 0.5 to 2 mL tube containing the sample liquid is placed in the base of the pressure injection cell, as shown schematically on the left (bolts are not shown). A capillary is then placed through the ferrule in the cap and down into the sample tube. When packing a capillary, a frit assembly is placed at the distal end of the capillary to prevent particles from exiting and the entire pressure injection cell is typically placed on a stir plate (as shown above). By regulating the gas pressure, you can adjust the flow rate of the sample into the capillary.
Sample Data
LC/MS chromatogram of a peptide mixture prepared from a tryptic digested gel band, separated by a 5 µm C18 resin packed column (100 µm inside diameter by 10 cm long capillary). The Pressure Injection Cell was used to pack the HPLC capillary column and to inject the sample into the mass spectrometer. Courtesy of Dr. Qishan Lin.
SCHEMATIC OF SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE INJECTION CELL
Accessories:
TBNG10 Tubing Use this 10 foot long piece of stainless steel tubing, 1/8 inch outside diameter, .028 wall, rated for 8,500 psi, to connect the pressure injection cell to the pressure regulator on the gas tank.
HPREG High pressure regulator mounts to an Argon, Helium, or Nitrogen gas tank, and comes with a Swagelok fitting for 1/8 inch diameter tubing. Operating pressure (reaching the pressure injection cell) of up to 1500 psi. To use this regulator with air, order the inlet nipple for air, NIP-AIR below.
Temporarily just $150/spool, because we have too much inventory.
CAP-75 . Fused Silica Capillary, 75 µm ID and cleaving tool. This is the most popular size of capillary used for making packed columns. The 10 meter length of capillary comes on a spool and a cleaving tool is included. This flexible, synthetic fused silica capillary has a polyimide coating and is 100% proof tested at 100 ksi.
ADPT-ISOto1/8 Adapter which threads into 1/4 ISO fitting (metric) on the pressure regulator and accepts 1/8 inch tubing (such as TBNG10 above) from the pressure injection cell.
ADPT-3mm1/8 Adapter which mounts on the PC77 and accepts 3mm (metric) outside diameter tubing. This item will come assembled to the pressure injection cell.
ADPT-1/4to1/8 Adapter which connects 1/8 inch outside diameter tubing to a fitting for 1/4 tubing.
NIP-AIR Inlet Nipple and Nut to adapt HPREG above (high pressure regulator) for use with tanks of dry air. Order with the HPREG and it will be factory installed with the regulator.
STRBR5X2 $8 Magnetic stirbar, Teflon® coated, 5 x 2 mm.
High Quality
The Pressure Injection Cell holds 1 mL and 2 mL micro-centrifuge tubes as well as 12 x 32 mm glass vials in its central chamber (as shown at right). The assembly can be used on a typical magnetic stirrer, e.g. to keep particles in suspension. The cell needs to be connected to a bottle/tank of compressed gas, such as Helium or Nitrogen. Packing capillary columns requires several hundred to about 1000 psi or sometimes more, and mass spectrometer injections typically require a few hundred psi. This unit is rated for a 2500 psi. 8500 psi units are available.
Operationally, the pressure injection cell is analogous to a straw in a juice box. As you apply pressure in the box, the juice will be forced out through the straw. 
Likewise, the pressure injection cell is connected to pressurized gas, typically in a tank, as shown on the far right. A 0.5 to 2 mL tube containing the sample liquid is placed in the base of the pressure injection cell, as shown schematically on the left (bolts are not shown). A capillary is then placed through the ferrule in the cap and down into the sample tube. When packing a capillary, a frit assembly is placed at the distal end of the capillary to prevent particles from exiting and the entire pressure injection cell is typically placed on a stir plate (as shown above). By regulating the gas pressure, you can adjust the flow rate of the sample into the capillary.
