Agilent Community
Agilent Community
  • User
  • Site
  • Search the Community
  • User
  • Home
  • Technical Areas
    Technical Areas
    • AssayMap
    • Atomic Spectroscopy
    • Automated Electrophoresis
    • Bioreagents
    • Cell Analysis
    • Consumables
    • CrossLab Connect
      CrossLab Connect
      • Service Management
      • Smart Alerts
    • Dissolution
    • GC
    • GC/MS
    • LC/MS
    • LC
    • Molecular Spectroscopy
      Molecular Spectroscopy
      • Molecular Spectroscopy - UV-Vis & UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, Raman & Fluorescence
      • 8700 LDIR User Group
    • Sample Preparation
    • Software
      Software
      • Chromatography Software
        OpenLab CDS, OpenLab ChemStation, OpenLab EZChrom
      • Data Management Software
        OpenLab ECM, OpenLab ECM XT, OpenLab Server
      • Mass Spectrometry Software
        Data Analysis, Data Acquisition, Productivity App, WalkUp Software
    • Vacuum
  • Applications Areas
    Applications Areas
    • Basic Research
    • Energy and Chemicals
    • Environmental
    • Food and Agriculture
  • Agilent Knowledge Portal
  • Links
    Links
    • Collection of Support Resources
    • Webinar Notifications
    • Contact Support
    • User Contributions
  • Getting Started
    Community Help and Resources
  • Browse
    Browse
    • People
    • Places
    • Your View
    • Your Community Inbox
ICP-OES Portal
  • Agilent Knowledge Portal
ICP-OES Portal
Articles Checking for a Blocked ICP-OES Nebulizer
  • Articles
  • Videos
  • Forum
  • Announcements
  • More
  • Cancel
  • Agilent Knowledge Portal
  • ICP-OES Portal Home
  • ICP-OES Portal Articles
  • ICP-OES Portal Videos
  • More
  • Cancel
  • Created :  10 Nov 2022
  • Modified :  8 Feb 2023
  • Category :  Agilent Knowledge Portal
  • Entry Type :  Article
  • Product Type :  ICP OES Systems
  • Product Name :  5100 ICP-OES 5110 ICP-OES 5800 ICP-OES 5900 ICP-OES
  • Task :  Troubleshooting
Related Articles
  • Cleaning the ICP-OES Nebulizer

    This Information Applies To: Agilent 500 Series ICP-OES (5100, 5110, 5800, 5900) Issue The ICP-OES nebulizer converts the liquid sample into an aerosol as it enters the spray chamber. A dirty or partially blocked nebulizer traps sample, which leads to poor reproducibility and reduced sensitivity. Droplets on the internal surface of the spray chamber can indicate poor conversion of liquid to mist. ICP-OES overview The ICP-OES sample introduction components are detailed in Figure 1 . ...
  • Loss of or Change in Agilent ICP-OES Sensitivity: Causes and Corrections

    This Information Applies To: Agilent 5000 Series ICP-OES (5100/5110/5800/5900) and Agilent 700 Series ICP-OES (710/715/720/725/730/735) Issue Loss or change of sensitivity in ICP-OES can occur under normal operating practices. This discussion identifies factors that can contribute to sensitivity changes including calibration standards , memory effects , and the sample introduction system . Sample introduction components include: Autosampler probe Switching valve Pump tubing Nebulizer...
  • Wavy Baseline on the Agilent Bioanalyzer

    This Information Applies To: 2100 Bioanalyzer, 2100 Expert software Issue The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer system electropherograms in the Agilent 2100 Expert software have a wavy, uneven baseline ( Figure 1 ). Figure 1. Wavy, uneven baseline on Bioanalyzer electropherograms The error is most often associated with: Problems during chip priming Dirty electrodes Moisture on the electrodes Sample contamination The sample concentration being higher than the assay's range Liquid spillage...
  • Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer Error: Run Aborted on Port x, Unusual High or Low Voltage

    This Information Applies To: 2100 Bioanalyzer, 2100 Expert software Issue The Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer system run ends prematurely and the following error appears in the logbook: Run aborted on port x. Instrument error occurred on port x, Unusual high or low voltage or current was detected during the start phase of the on-chip analysis. The marked wells will indicate the wells on the chip that caused the problem. An example of the error is shown in Figure 1 . The error is most often associated...
  • How to Clean a Blocked Nebulizer of an Agilent Flame Atomic Absorption System

    This Information Applies To: Agilent Flame Atomic Absorption (AA) Spectrometers (50/55/240/280 AA) Issue: How to clean a blocked nebulizer of a Flame AA, which may be causing low sensitivity or a sample uptake rate below 5 ml/min. Steps to follow: Warning : Never remove a nebulizer from the spray chamber while the flame is on. Always extinguish the flame before removing the nebulizer from the spray chamber. Parts in and near the burner compartment become hot during operation...

Checking for a Blocked ICP-OES Nebulizer

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent 5000 Series ICP-OES


Issue

Blocked nebulizers are the source of many instrument performance issues including loss of sensitivity and poor precision, especially when running organics, high solids, or high salt concentration solutions. The ICP-OES backpressure Nebulizer test verifies nebulizer performance. Run this test if you notice no mist in the spray chamber, have low sensitivity during analysis, or high % RSDs on your replicates. Blockages and partial blockages may not be identified ny visual identification. 


Steps to follow

  1. Turn on the external exhaust and then the ICP-OES.

  2. Open ICP Expert software.

  3. Install the nebulizer, spray chamber, and torch and ensure that the gas supply is connected and turned on. 

     Tip 
    Tips: Perform this test when the nebulizer is new and compare to the results when testing for a blockage.
  4. On the instrument toolbar, click Dashboard > Nebulizer Select drop-down menu >  and select the appropriate nebulizer or Other if nebulizer is not available in the list.

  5. Click Start to run the test.

  6.  Once the test is finished, click Status > Tests to view the results.

  7. A High backpressure result indicates a partial or fully blocked nebulizer or torch injector tube. To correct:

    1. Replace the nebulizer with a brand new one (preferably) or clean one.

    2. Clean the nebulizer.

    3. Clean the torch injector tube.

  8. A Low backpressure result indicates a leak on the nebulizer supply line, the internal capillary of the nebulizer is cracked or broken, or the nebulizer is not installed correctly. To correct:

    1. Check the connections and reinstall the nebulizer.

    2. Check the nebulizer supply lines for cracks.  

 Tip 
Learn how to effectively troubleshoot your Agilent ICP-OES:
ICPOES-5110-1270e - Agilent 5110 ICP-OES Maintenance and Troubleshooting  e-learning course available from Agilent education
 
 
Was this helpful?
  • Yes
  • No
Thank you for your feedback!

Agilent Community Feedback

Agilent Community Feedback

×
We are glad this was helpful! We are sorry this was not helpful. If you still need assistance please create a community post or contact support. To help us improve, please provide any additional feedback. For full details of how we will treat your information, please view our privacy policy.
Submit Cancel
Submit Cancel
Contact Agilent Support

Still Need Assistance?

Contact Agilent Support >

Privacy Statement
Terms of Use
Contact Us
Site Help