6
Routine Maintenance
Cleaning the LightPipe Flow Cell
Thermo Scientific
Surveyor PDA Plus Detector Hardware Manual
89
6. Depending on how you plan to clean the flow cell, do one of the following:
• To store the flow cell, disconnect the liquid lines. Then place the protective end caps
on the ends of the LightPipe flow cell.
• To temporarily remove the flow cell from the system, disconnect the LightPipe inlet
tube from the column.
• To clean the LightPipe flow cell by pumping solvent through it, disconnect the flow
cell inlet tube from the column and reconnect it directly to the pump. Leave the
outlet tubing connected to the waste reservoir.
Cleaning the Flow Cell with Organic Solvents
If you suspect that your LightPipe flow cell needs cleaning, start with the following procedure
using organic solvents.
To clean the LightPipe flow cell with organic solvent
1. Remove the column from the chromatographic system to avoid column degradation.
Connect the inlet of the LightPipe directly to the chromatographic pump.
2. If necessary, flush the LightPipe with water to prevent a reaction between the last solvent
used in the chromatographic system and the cleaning solvent that is going to be used to
clean the cell.
3. Flush the flow cell with 40 to 50 mL of cleaning solvent (for example, isopropanol or
methanol).
CAUTION
Do
not
disassemble the LightPipe housing or tighten the screws on the
housing. In addition, do not touch the optical fibers at the ends of the LightPipe. Doing
so damages the LightPipe flow cell. Thermo Fisher Scientific cannot be held responsible
for any damage done to the LightPipe by attempts to disassemble the housing or tighten
the screws. Contact your Thermo Fisher Scientific Service Representative with any
questions regarding LightPipe maintenance or service.
IMPORTANT
Make certain that the cleaning solvents you plan to use are miscible
with the solvent already present in the LightPipe and pump. Isopropanol is a good
choice as a cleaning solvent for most applications. If the last solvent in the pump was
an aqueous buffer solution, be sure to pump 25 to 40 mL of HPLC-grade water (or
equivalent) through the system to remove any salts before you flush it with the
cleaning solvents. This wash helps to avoid precipitation problems.
CAUTION
Thermo Fisher Scientific does not recommend using a syringe to force
solvent through the flow cell. Pressurizing the syringe could cause a leak or rupture,
resulting in a dangerous and uncontrolled spraying of solvent.
