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Operation
4000 MiD® Instructions, V6695
6. Operation
6.1 Preparing to analyse
This section describes the steps you need to follow in order to prepare
the MiD for analysing chemical samples.
Note:
Follow each subsection in order.
6.1.1 MiD system pump-down
The MiD has to be pumped down before it can be used for analysis. To
pump the system down the user should follow the steps detailed below.
1.
Click the“pump down“ button in the software. This will initiate the
pump down cycle. Nitrogen gas purges the interface before the va-
cuum pumps are activated.
2.
Allow 30 minutes to ensure pump down is complete and all electro-
nics are warmed-up and functioning within their correct environmen-
tal parameters.
The base pressures in the ion guide (IG) chamber and analytical (AQ)
chamber must be below ~2.0 E-3 Torr and 5.0 E-4 Torr, respectively.
Pressure readouts for these chambers are displayed in the software.
Check these pressures are achieved before proceeding further.
To vent the system, click the vent button in the software. This will ini-
tiate the vent cycle. The user will be prompted to confirm before the
vent cycle starts.
6.2 Shutting down the MiD
The following section details the basic procedures for putting the MiD
into ‘standby’, venting the system, and powering down the system.
6.2.1 Entering ‘Standby’ mode
1.
If using an LC system, flush the system using a mobile phase solution
containing 95% of the organic solvent. Follow the procedure descri-
bed in the corresponding software instructions.
2.
Monitor the spray current in the software. The spray current value
turns grey when the microspray has stopped.
3.
Click the Operate/Standby button to set the instrument to standby
mode. All high voltages and the nebuliser gas are switched off.
6.2.2 Venting the MiD
The MiD can be left in standby mode. If, however, you need to vent the
MiD to atmosphere, to change the vac-chip for example, please follow
the instructions below.
1.
Click the vent button in the software.
2.
A dialog appears to confirm that you wish to vent the instrument.
Click <Yes>. The MiD vents to atmosphere, and the pressures in the
analytical and ion guide chambers increase to 9.0E2 Torr.
6.2.3 Shutting down the MiD
At times, the MiD has to be powered down, for example, when service
or maintenance work has to be performed. Follow the procedure in the
corresponding software instructions.
Procedure
Procedure
Procedure