Cleaning the sample cone and cone gas nozzle

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 argon gas or Oil-free nitrogen gas.
• Wash bottle containing HPLC-grade (or better) 1:1 methanol/water.
• Large beaker.

To clean the sample cone and cone gas nozzle:

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.

Note: To avoid damaging the sampling cone, which is fragile, do not place it on its tip. Always place it on its flanged base.

1. If the sample cone contains debris, place a drop of formic acid on its orifice.
2. Immerse the sample cone and cone gas nozzle in separate glass vessels containing 1:1 methanol/water.
   • Note: The handle on earlier versions of the cone gas nozzle assembly is removable, although the cone gas nozzle can be cleaned without detaching the handle.
   • Tip: If the components are obviously contaminated, use 45:45:10 methanol/water/formic acid.
3. Place the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes.
4. If you used formic acid in the cleaning solution, do as follows:
   • Rinse the components by immersing them in separate glass vessels containing water, and then placing the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes.
   • Remove any residual water from the components by immersing them in separate glass vessels containing methanol, and then placing the vessels in the ultrasonic bath for ten minutes.
   • Note: To avoid recontaminating the components, wear clean, chemical-resistant, powder-free gloves.
5. Carefully remove the components from the vessels and blow dry them with inert, oil-free gas.
6. Inspect each component for persisting contamination. 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 with inert, oil-free gas.
7. Inspect each component for persisting contamination.

Warning: To avoid spreading contamination with biologically hazardous, toxic, and corrosive materials, dispose of all waste materials according to local environmental regulations.

Requirement: If contamination is present, clean the component again. If contamination is still present, dispose of the component, according to local environmental regulations, and obtain a new one before reassembling the sampling cone assembly.