Esi Probe Maintenance - Thermo Scientific LTQ Series Hardware Manual

ESI Probe Maintenance

Flushing the Sample Transfer Line and Sample Tube
Thermo Scientific
IMPORTANT
• Prepare a clean work surface by covering the area with lint-free paper.
• Put on a new pair of lint- and powder-free gloves before starting each of these
removal, cleaning, and reinstallation procedures.
The ESI probe requires minimum maintenance. If the fused-silica sample tube is plugged or
broken, replace it. You can trim or replace the sample tube without disassembling the ESI
probe. However, to clean the nozzle bore or the interior surfaces of the ESI manifold or to
replace the electrospray needle or needle seal, you must disassemble the ESI probe.
CAUTION HOT SURFACE At operating temperatures above 350 °C (662 °F), the probe
and API source housing can severely burn you.
• Before removing the probe or API source housing, allow the part to cool to room
temperature (approximately 20 minutes) before touching it.
• If the mass spectrometer connects to an LC system, leave the solvent flow from the
LC pump on while the probe cools to room temperature.
To maintain the ESI probe, follow these procedures:
• Flushing the Sample Transfer Line and Sample Tube
• Trimming the ESI Sample Tube
• Disassembling the ESI
• Cleaning or Replacing the ESI Probe
• Assembling the ESI Probe, on
• Installing a Fused-Silica Sample Tube and PEEK Safety
• Installing an Optional Metal Sample
You can minimize cleaning of the probe components by flushing the sample transfer line,
sample tube, and probe at the end of each work day (or more often if you suspect they are
contaminated). To remove contamination, use a 50:50 solution of LC/MS-grade methanol
and LC/MS-grade water, and flush the solution from the LC system through the API source
for approximately 15 minutes. For instructions, see
Sample Tube, and API Probe"
Probe, on page 59
Components, on
page 62
Tube, on page 69
"Flushing the Sample Transfer Line,
on page 49.
5
Maintenance
Ion Source Probe Maintenance
page 60
Sleeve, on page 63
LTQ Series Hardware Manual 57