Maintaining The Uecd; Important Safety Information About The Uecd - Agilent Technologies Agilent 7890 Series Maintenance Manual

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Maintaining the uECD

Important Safety Information About the uECD

WA R N I N G
WA R N I N G
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The uECD contains a cell plated with
isotope. The beta particles released at the energy level in the
detector have little penetrating power—the surface layer of
the skin or a few sheets of paper will stop most of them—but
they may be hazardous if the isotope is ingested or inhaled.
For this reason, handle the cell with care. Cap the detector
inlet and outlet fittings when the detector is not in use.
Never introduce corrosive chemicals into the detector. Vent
detector exhaust outside the laboratory environment.
Refer to the safety documentation provided with the detector
for important details about safety, maintenance, and
compliance with local government regulation.
Materials that may react with the
volatile products or to cause physical degradation of the plated
film, must be avoided. These materials include oxidizing
compounds, acids, wet halogens, wet nitric acid, ammonium
hydroxide, hydrogen sulfide, PCBs, and carbon monoxide. This list
is not exhaustive but indicates the kinds of compounds that may
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cause damage to Ni detectors.
In the extremely unlikely event that both the oven and the
detector-heated zone should go into thermal runaway (maximum,
uncontrolled heating in excess of 400 °C) at the same time and the
detector remains exposed to this condition for more than 12 hours,
take the following steps:
After turning off the main power and allowing the instrument to
1
cool, cap the detector inlet and exhaust vent openings. Wear
disposable plastic gloves and observe normal laboratory safety
precautions.
Return the cell for disposal, following directions included with
2
the License Verification Form (part number 19233-90750).
Include a letter stating the condition of abuse.
3
It is unlikely, even in this very unusual situation, that radioactive
material will escape the cell. However, permanent damage to the
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Ni plating within the cell is possible; therefore, the cell must be
returned for exchange.
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Ni, a radioactive
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Ni source, either to form
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