Cleaning the ion block components
Required materials
- Chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves
- Appropriately sized glass vessels in which to completely immerse components when cleaning. Use only glassware not previously cleaned with surfactants.
- HPLC-grade (or better) methanol
- HPLC-grade (or better) water
- Formic acid
- Ultrasonic bath
- Oil-free nitrogen gas for drying (air-drying optional)
- Wash bottle containing HPLC-grade (or better) 1:1 methanol/water
- Large beaker
To clean the ion block components:
Warning: To avoid personal contamination with biologically hazardous, toxic, and corrosive materials, wear chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves when performing this procedure.
Warning: To avoid injury when working with formic acid, which is extremely corrosive and toxic, take extreme care handling it, and use a fume hood and suitable protective equipment.
- Immerse the ion block and isolation valve in separate glass vessels containing 1:1 methanol/water.
Tip: If the components are obviously contaminated, use 45:45:10 methanol/water/formic acid.
- Place the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes.
- If you used formic acid in the cleaning solution, do as follows:
- Rinse the components by immersing them separately in glass vessels containing water, and then placing the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes.
- Remove residual water from the components by immersing them in separate glass vessels containing methanol, and then placing the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for 10 minutes.
Notice: To avoid recontaminating the components, wear clean, chemical resistant, powder-free gloves.
- Carefully remove the components from the vessels and blow-dry them using inert, oil-free gas.
- Inspect each component for persisting contamination.
Requirement: If contamination is present, do as follows:
- Use the wash bottle containing 1:1 methanol/water to rinse the component over the large beaker.
- Blow-dry the component using inert, oil-free gas.
Warning: To avoid spreading contamination with biologically hazardous, toxic, and corrosive materials, dispose of all waste materials according to local environmental regulations.
- Inspect each component for persisting contamination. If contamination is present, dispose of the component and obtain a new one before reassembly.