Maintenance; Instrument Cleaning - Thermo Scientific iCAP 7000 Series Manual

iCAP Customer Familiarisation Manual

8 Maintenance

The iCAP 7000 has been designed for minimum maintenance. However, it is critical that the
sample introduction components be checked regularly for contamination and wear. Failure to do
so could result in loss of instrument performance.
Therefore, routine user maintenance of the iCAP 7000 is mainly concerned with keeping the
instrument clean.
Before using any cleaning or decontamination methods except those specified by the
manufacturer, the user should check with the manufacturer that the proposed method will not
damage the equipment.

8.1 Instrument Cleaning

Any spillage on the external covers or within the sample introduction areas should be cleaned up
immediately using appropriate safety precautions, prolonged contact with solvents and acids
could result in permanent damage.
Stains and marks on the covers should be removed with a soft cloth moistened with a mild
detergent solution. Do not use any solvent based cleaners.
8.1.1 Sample Introduction System Cleaning and Decontamination
Failure to maintain the sample introduction system can result in erroneous results, poor precision,
poor detection limits and blockages.
After use, the instrument shut down procedures from earlier in this manual should be followed.
Components contaminated with sample residues should be cleaned.
It is recommended that several spares for each part are available in case blockages, sample
contamination and breakages happen during analysis.
Suitable protective clothing, glasses and gloves should be worn.
8.1.2 Torch Cleaning
The O-rings in the metal torch mount (3 internal & 2 external) should be inspected and replaced if
any wear or damage is visible.
Warning: Allow at least 10 minutes for any hot components to cool before
removing them from the torch compartment. Care should be taken to remove any
broken glass from the Duo radial POP window if a breakage occurs in the torch
box. ▲
To remove salt deposits soak the torch in a dilute analytical-grade surfactant for five minutes.
To remove metallic deposits from the tip, separate the torch quartz section, immerse the tip of
the torch in a 10 % acid solution for several hours or until clean (a mixture of nitric and
hydrochloric acid is normally suitable).
After cleaning, rinse the torch with de-ionized water and place in a drying oven at 95°C until it is
dry. Rinsing with a volatile, zero residue, organic solvent (propanol is suitable) will aid drying.
To clean the torch of carbon deposits, place the torch in a muffle furnace and heat to 450°C.
Open the door for a few seconds to allow air to enter, close and allow the oven to reach 450°C
again. Repeat this several times to remove all the carbon. Allow the furnace to cool over several
hours, as this will prevent stress building up in the quartz.
This document is part numbered 849940090071 Version 1.02
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