7
Optimizing the MS Detector with Your Analyte in APCI/MS Mode
Cleaning the MS Detector after Tuning in APCI Mode
128
LTQ XL Getting Started
Thermo Electron Corporation
Cleaning the MS
Detector after Tuning
in APCI Mode
Use the following procedure to clean the MS detector after tuning on your
analyte of interest.
1. Click
On/Standby
to put the MS detector in Standby mode. When
the MS detector is in Standby, the LTQ XL MS detector turns off the
vaporizer heater, corona discharge voltage, and syringe pump. The MS
detector stops scanning, and the LTQ XL MS detector freezes the
displays for the Spectrum and Graph views.
2. Remove the syringe from the syringe pump holder, as follows:
a. Squeeze the blue buttons, and pull back on the syringe pump handle
to free the syringe.
b. Remove the syringe from the holder.
c. Disconnect the tip of the syringe needle from the Teflon tubing.
3. Clean the syringe thoroughly, as follows:
a. Clean the syringe with a solution of 5% formic acid in water.
b. Rinse the syringe with a solution of 50:50 methanol:water.
c. Use acetone to rinse the syringe. (Repeat this step several times.)
4. Remove the Ion Max ion source housing as described in the topic
“Removing the Ion Max Ion Source Housing”
.
On
Standby
CAUTION
Always place the MS detector in Standby (or Off ) before you
open the API source to atmospheric oxygen. The presence of oxygen in
the ion source when the MS detector is On could be unsafe. (The LTQ
XL MS detector automatically turns Off when you open the API source,
however, it is best to take this added precaution.)
CAUTION
AVOID BURNS.
The APCI vaporizer heater can reach
temperatures of 600 ×C. Always allow the APCI probe to cool to
ambient temperature, for approximately 20 min, before handling or
removing the APCI probe from the APCI flange.
CAUTION
AVOID INJURY.
The corona discharge needle is very sharp
and can puncture your skin if you handle it without caution.
