Configuring Your Cp-8400/8410 To Use Spme - Agilent Technologies Varian CP-8400 Operator's Manual

Configuring your CP-8400/8410 to use SPME

The Auto Sampler will only come up in one of two configurations. The
first and default configuration is the liquid sampling configuration. In this
configuration your Auto Sampler will use a syringe to withdraw liquid for
subsequent injection into the chromatograph. The second configuration
is the SPME mode. The SPME operation can be thought of as
fundamentally reversed from liquid sampling in terms of the actions the
plunger performs during the sampling process. In liquid sampling, for
instance, the plunger is at its home state more or less fully descended
and sampling is done by withdrawing the plunger from the syringe barrel
in order to take an aliquot for injection. In SPME however, the plunger is
at the top of its travel when it is in the home position and the SPME fiber
must be exposed by inserting the plunger into the fiber holder barrel to
expose the fiber. Obviously this fundamental difference in the sampling
process mechanics could cause unintentional damage to the SPME
fiber. In order to change the configuration of your Auto Sampler from
liquid sampling to SPME sampling you will need to change the position of
a switch on the CP-8400/8410 tower's sled assembly. Follow the
procedure below:
1. Turn off the power to your CP-3800 GC.
2. Manually rotate the CP-8400/8410 tower so that it is over the
3. Open the tower's clear plastic door and remove the syringe or
4. Push the syringe sled as far down as it will go. Note that once
5. If the switch is in the down position, the Auto Sampler is in the
6. Raise the sled, install the appropriate block for either a syringe or
CP-8400 AutoSampler & CP-8410 AutoInjector
GC. It is best not to place it over an injector since the injector
may be hot.
SPME Fiber holder.
the syringe guide foot touches the top of the GC it can be
compressed further. Do this compression gently and watch for
the white switch that will be just exposed once the sled has
reached its maximum downward travel.
liquid sampling configuration. If the switch is in the up position
then it is in the SPME configuration. Set the switch to the
desired configuration.
a SPME fiber holder and then install the device (syringe or fiber
holder) into the block as appropriate.
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