Agilent Technologies 5800 ICP-OES, User Manual

Page: 61 / 66

Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Agilent 5800 and 5900 ICP-OES User's Guide 61
NOTE
For high total dissolved solids (TDS) samples such as soil digests, soak the quartz
parts of the torch in a 5% v/v detergent solution for 10 minutes after the initial acid
cleaning step. Always rinse the torch thoroughly and dry completely prior to using
the torch in the instrument. Follow the steps outlined above for “Rinsing the torch”
and “Drying the torch” below. This extra step can help to reduce deposition on the
outer tube of the torch.
CAUTION
Do not place the plastic parts of the torch in a drying oven. It is not as effective at
removing moisture as using compressed air, argon or nitrogen and may damage
the torch.
Drying the torch
1 Hold the torch inverted (with the ball joint connector at the top).
2 Blow clean compressed air, argon or nitrogen through the gas supply ports on
the base and through the opening of the ball joint connector to remove
moisture. See Figure 18A and Figure 18B.
Figure 18 A and B. Use compressed air, argon or nitrogen to dry the torch.