Operation
40
Edition 05/2014
PlasmaQuant PQ 9000
7
Operation
7.1
Switching on the PlasmaQuant PQ 9000 and igniting the plasma
Switch on the PlasmaQuant PQ 9000 as follows:
1. Switch on the PlasmaQuant PQ 9000 at the power switch.
2. Switch on the PC at the power switch and start the operating system.
3. Open the gas supply and ensure a preliminary pressure of 6 bar.
4. Switch on the exhaust unit.
5. Switch on the recirculating chiller at the power switch.
6. Check if the torch is in the start position. The injector tip must be situated approx. 1 – 2 mm
below the bottom edge of the induction coil.
7. If necessary, close the door to the plasma compartment.
8. Check the pump hoses. Replace any hoses that are no longer flexible or show signs of
heavy abrasion.
9. Clamp each of the pump hoses between the stoppers in the pump on the PlasmaQuant PQ
9000.
Place the hose guides over the hoses and attach the guides with the clamping levers.
Make sure that the clamping levers snap into place!
Attention!
Note the pump direction. This pump rotates in a counterclockwise direction.
10. Check whether there is sufficient wash solution in the bottle for the analysis.
Note:
The wash solution should have the same acid content as the samples and standards. Use
a 2% nitric acid solution unless specified differently
.
11. Empty the waste bottle.
12. Dip the sample aspiration hose into the wash solution in case of manual operation without
an automatic sampler. No air must follow during the plasma ignition process.
For automatic operation, switch on the automatic sampler at the power switch and clamp
the pump hose for the wash solution.
The pump on the automatic sampler moves in a clockwise direction.
13. Start the ASpect PQ program.
In the M
AIN
S
ETTINGS
window, select the R
OUTINE
or M
ETHOD
D
EVELOPMENT
option.
14. If the system has been out of service for a longer period (more than a week) or the spray
chamber has been dismantled, the spray chamber and the torch should be purged with
carrier gas to evacuate any air from the sample introduction system:
– Open the P
LASMA
/
C
ONTROL
window by clicking on
.
– Wait for [R
INSE SPRAY CHAMBER
] 60 s until plasma ignition.
15. Ignite the plasma:
Click on
to open the P
LASMA
/
C
ONTROL
window and click on [I
GNITE
P
LASMA
].
After a cooling phase of the detector the plasma will be ignited.
16. Verify that the plasma forms correctly, i.e., the plasma extends in a cone shape beyond the
induction coil and tapers upwards.
If a ring plasma forms (plasma is formed only inside the induction coil) or a rattling sound
