What are the gas requirements for a Xevo TQ MS? - WKB4039

ENVIRONMENT

• Xevo TQ MS
• Xevo TQD
• Xevo TQ-S micro

ANSWER

Gases and Regulators

>Nitrogen Gas

Caution: Where the APGC source is used, nitrogen purity must be >99.999%.

The Xevo TQ MS requires a supply of dry, oil-free nitrogen with a purity of at least 95%.
The nitrogen must be regulated at 6.75 ±0.25 bar (98 ±4 psi) outlet pressure, using a two-stage
gas regulator with an appropriate outlet range, for example, 0 to 11 bar (0 to 160 psi).

Important: It is the customer’s responsibility to provide a two-stage regulator fitted with an adapter to connect to a 6-mm push-in fitting, see Table.

Caution: The nitrogen must be connected using the full 5 m (16 ft) of 6-mm OD Teflon tubing supplied. Do not cut the tubing to size. The nitrogen line must be inspected for leaks under pressure.

If copper tubing is used for the nitrogen line, the copper must be chemically cleaned; if stainless steel tubing is used, the stainless steel must be medical grade. 
Ensure that there are no soldered or brazed joints in the line, as these may result in contamination of the instrument with tin or lead oxide. Any joints in the nitrogen line must be compression fittings.

Note: The use of nitrogen cylinders is not recommended. Due to high consumption, a cylinder is likely to empty during long sample runs. The supply must be constant in case venting occurs.

During API operation, typical nitrogen usage varies from 600 to 1200 L/h (at atmospheric pressure). This equates approximately to the consumption of a large cylinder of compressed nitrogen each day. You may prefer to use a liquid nitrogen Dewar, which lasts for several weeks. Consult your local gas supplier for an ideal gas supply configuration.

 

Collision Gas
Argon is required for the collision cell. The argon must be dry, high purity (99.997%) and regulated at a pressure of 0.5 ±0.1 bar (7 ±2 psi), using a two-stage high-purity gas regulator with an appropriate outlet range, for example, 0 to 2 bar (0 to 29 psi).

Important: It is the customer’s responsibility to provide a two-stage regulator fitted with an adapter to connect to a 1/8-inch Swagelok type fitting, see Table.

Caution: Ensure that there are no soldered or brazed joints in the argon line, as these may result in contamination of the instrument with tin or lead oxide. Any joints in the
collision gas line must be compression fittings.

The gas supply must be connected using the clean, ⅛-inch OD, medical-grade stainless steel tubing supplied and inspected for leaks under pressure.

 

Table: Summary of Instrument Fittings Required

	Fittings on system	Items supplied by Waters with the instrument	Items to be supplied by the customer
Rotary Pump Exhaust	12-mm OD tail pipe	5 m (16 ft) of PVC tube,12-mm ID	Industrial vent or fume hood
Source Exhaust (Nitrogen)	12-mm push-in fitting	6 m (19.6-ft) of Teflon tube, 12-mm OD	Industrial vent or fume hood
Liquid Waste	0.375 x 0.25 ID one-touch fitting	2 m (6.5 ft) of Tygon tubing	Waste bottle, 1 L (minimum)
Nitrogen Supply (API)	6-mm push-in fitting	5 m (16 ft) of Teflon tube, 6-mm OD	Nitrogen supply, regulated to 6.75 ±0.25 bar (98 ±4 psi) via a 6-mm adapter
Collision Gas Supply	1/8-inch fitting (Swagelok type)	3 m (10 ft) of 1/8-inch OD stainless steel tubing	Argon supply, regulated to 0.5 ±0.1 bar (7 ±2 psi), via a 1/8-inch adapter (Swagelok recommended)

 

 

Exhaust Outlets

Rotary Pump Exhaust

The rotary pump exhaust gases must be vented to the atmosphere outside the laboratory via a user-supplied fume hood or industrial vent. The exhaust may be connected to an existing laboratory vent carrying gases from other sources.

Five meters (16 ft) of 12-mm ID PVC tubing is supplied. If this length is insufficient, the user must supply an adapter and tubing with an internal diameter of at least 51 mm (2 inches) for the extra distance to the vent point.

Note: The fume hood/industrial vent must be equipped with an extraction fan system to enable adequate displacement of the exhaust gases.

Source Exhaust (Nitrogen)

The source exhaust line must be connected to either a laboratory fume hood or to an active exhaust system.

Caution: Severe contamination of the instrument may result if the source exhaust line is connected to the rotary pump exhaust line. The damage occurs when the nitrogen supply is turned off, or when the nitrogen runs out, as any rotary pump oil vapor migrates via the source exhaust to the ion source and then through the sample cone into the analyzer.

Six meters (19.6 ft) of 12-mm OD Teflon tubing is supplied for the source exhaust. If this length is insufficient, the user must supply an adapter and tubing with an ID of at least 16 mm (⅝ inch) for the extra distance to the vent point.

The instrument software can be configured to power-off the LC system if it detects that the nitrogen gas supply has failed. In the event that the nitrogen gas is switched off (or runs out) and the LC system continues to operate, excess solvent is drained from the source via the source exhaust line.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION