500 Series Ultra-Fast Gas Chromatograph

One GC. Three modes. Up to 10x faster analysis.

The 500 Series GC delivers conventional, fast, and ultra-fast chromatography. In one compact instrument, without the cost, footprint, or complexity of running multiple systems.

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More samples. Less waiting.

Most GC systems run one mode. The 500 Series runs three.

The 500 Series removes that choice. It runs all three modes: conventional, fast, and ultra-fast, on the same instrument. When you need throughput, switch to Ultra-Fast mode and process 5 to 10 times more samples in the same working day. When your method demands conventional analysis, that option is always there.

For lab managers, that means one capital purchase covers what would otherwise require multiple instruments. For analytical scientists, it means the method drives the decision, not the hardware.

Where the 500 Series fits

The 500 Series fits laboratories where GC throughput is a limiting factor. High-throughput testing environments, production and process labs, and facilities running multiple methods on a single system all benefit from faster cycle times and a flexible operating mode.

  • High-throughput testing labs: Large sample volumes, and the GC is the bottleneck. Ultra-fast mode increases daily throughput without adding bench space or capital equipment.
  • Production and process environments: Turnaround time is a factor in operational decisions. Faster results reach the people who need them sooner.
  • Labs running multiple methods: Different analyses, one instrument. Switch between conventional, fast, and ultra-fast modes depending on the method.
  • Managing backlog or outsourcing: If samples are queuing or going out of house, shorter cycle times change the economics.

Why ultra-fast GC matters

In a typical lab, a single GC run can take 20–30 minutes from injection to result. Multiply that across a day's worth of samples and the instrument becomes the ceiling on everything else.

Built around your workflow
Temp_Control
Oven

The 500 Series uses a flow-through oven with a built-in heat exchanger. Air circulates around the column during the run, and heat from the outgoing air is fed back into the incoming stream. At the end of a run, cool air bypasses the exchanger and the oven temperature drops quickly.

Ultra_Fast_GC
Ultra-Fast Mode

In ultra-fast mode, an electrical current runs directly through a deactivated stainless steel column, heating the column rather than the oven. This allows faster temperature ramping and significantly shorter cool-down times compared to conventional air-blown heating.

Injector
Injector

The injector is temperature-programmable and supports split and splitless operation. It can reach 600 °C, ramp at up to 720 °C/min, and has 10 programmable ramps. For the analytical scientist, that is a lot of control over what happens before the sample ever reaches the column.

GC_Column
Column

The 500 Series takes standard capillary columns from most manufacturers, as well as packed columns. Ultra-fast mode requires deactivated stainless steel columns, which are now available for most common applications.

 

Detectors

The choice of detector defines what the 500 Series GC can measure. Selecting the right detector allows the system to be configured for specific compound classes and analytical methods. In many cases, one detector can be used across several related applications, depending on the compounds of interest.

FID

 

Flame Ionisation Detector

Used for:
Alcohols, hydrocarbons, solvents, and other organic compounds.

The FID is a general-purpose detector widely used for routine organic analysis. It gives a stable, repeatable response across a wide linear range, which makes it reliable for methods where consistent quantification matters.

Common applications include alcohol analysis, solvent measurement, and general quality control testing.

ECD

 

Electron Capture Detector

Used for:
Halogenated compounds and other electronegative species.

The ECD is a high-sensitivity detector suited to trace-level analysis of compounds that readily capture electrons. It is often used where low detection limits are required.

Typical applications include environmental contaminants, halogenated solvents, and regulated trace compound analysis.

TEA_Shadow

 

Thermal Energy Analyser

Used for:
Nitroso, nitro, and other nitrogen-containing compounds such as nitrosamines.

The TEA is a selective detector designed specifically for nitrogen-specific analysis. When fitted to the 500 Series GC, it allows targeted measurement of nitrosamines and related compounds where high selectivity is needed. It is the detector of choice for nitrosamine testing in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco.

 

Built for labs that can't afford to slow down.

The 500 Series GC is used in pharmaceutical quality control, cannabis testing, food analysis, and forensic laboratories where sample throughput and turnaround time are operational priorities.
BSI Baxter_Health Canada_Malting Paris_Police

How the 500 Series compares

The 500 Series removes the tradeoff between analysis speed and method flexibility.
500 Series GC Conventional GC
Analysis modes
Three (conventional, fast, ultra-fast)
Conventional
Minimum analysis time
5 min (Ultra-Fast mode)
30 min
Size
45 × 22 × 57 cm
50 × 58 × 54 cm
Weight
18 kg
45 kg
Power consumption
1,200 VA
2,950 VA
Throughput
Scalable
Fixed

Choosing the right system

Ellutia makes two gas chromatographs. The 200 Series is built for routine testing in smaller or teaching environments. The 500 Series is built for labs where throughput, speed, or flexibility are the deciding factors.
500 Series GC 200 Series GC
Primary focus
High throughput
Routine testing
Operating modes
Conventional, fast, ultra-fast
Conventional
Speed
Ultra Fast
Conventional
Footprint
Compact
Very compact

Best suited to

High sample volumes
Straightforward, regular workflows

 

 

Software control

The 500 Series GC is controlled using Ellution, Ellutia's chromatography data station developed in conjunction with DataApex. Ellution handles instrument control, data acquisition, and results processing from a single interface.

It connects to a wide range of data acquisition hardware and can run alongside other gas and liquid chromatographs in the same lab. A single workstation can control up to four instruments. Optional extensions are available for specific analytical methodologies.

Ellution is CFR compliant, making it suitable for use in regulated laboratory environments.

 

Specifications

The 500 Series GC delivers conventional, fast, and ultra-fast chromatography in a compact instrument.

500_Series_Dimensions

Dimensions
45 cm (H) × 22 cm (W) × 57 cm (D)

Weight
18 kg

Power supply
1200 VA
100-240 V, 50–60 Hz

Oven heating rates (conventional and fast modes)
35–150 °C: up to 50 °C/min 120–240 °C: up to 30 °C/min 240–300 °C: up to 20 °C/min 300–350 °C: up to 5 °C/min

Oven design
Flow-through oven with integrated heat exchanger

Column support
Compatible with standard capillary columns from most manufacturers. Packed columns also supported. Ultra-fast mode requires deactivated stainless steel columns.

Injection
Temperature-programmable split/splitless injector. Temperature range: ambient +20 °C to 600 °C.

Detector configuration
Single-channel system
One detector per instrument

Software control
Ellution chromatography software

Ready to see the 500 Series GC in your workflow?

If throughput, bench space, or running costs are factors in your next GC decision, we can work through the options with you.

 

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500 Series Brochure

A detailed overview of the 500 Series GC, including specifications, operating modes, and configuration options.

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500_Series_Ultra_Fast_GC_Cover

 

Frequently Asked Questions