Removing the Ion Transfer Capillary from Agilent 6000 Series LC/MS Systems

Answer

This Information Applies To: All Agilent 6000 Series LC/MS Systems without a gate valve for ion capillary installation/removal.

For instructions for removing an ion capillary on LC/MS instruments with a gate valve installed, please click here

Issue:

Removing the Ion Transfer Capillary for maintenance.

Steps to follow:

Tips: The figures in this article show an LC/MS with an Agilent Jet Stream (AJS) source installed. The process of capillary removal is the same for LC/MS instruments equipped with the standard electrospray ion source installed.

1. Turn off heated zones in the instrument and wait for a least 20 minutes for the mass spectrometer heated zones to cool down.

2. Vent the instrument. When the Instrument is vented, use the front power switch to turn off the power to the LC/MS instrument. Unplug all power cords from the LC/MS instrument.

   Warning: If the LC/MS instrument included a pump expander box, make sure you unplug both the main power cord, and the pump expander cord.

3. Put on clean powder-free nitrile gloves, then open the spray chamber. 

   Caution: Handling Ion Source components or the Ion Transfer Capillary without gloves can cause contamination. Use clean powder-free nitrile gloves during this procedure

4. Carefully test that the spray shield is cool to the touch then remove the spray shield (Figure 1).

   Warning: The spray chamber operates a high temperature. Do not open the spray chamber until it is cool.

   
   Figure 1: Removing the spray shield

5. Remove the endcap from the end of the capillary as shown (Figure 2).

   
   Figure 2: Removing the endcap from the end of the Ion Transfer Capillary

6. Remove the two T10 Torx screws that hold down the end plate, then remove the end plate (Figure 3).

   
   Figure 3: Removing the end plate

7. Remove the contract ring (Figure 4).

   
   Figure 4: Removing the contact ring that lies underneath the end plate

8. Carefully pull the capillary straight out of the desolvation assembly along its long axis, avoiding any horizontal or vertical pressure on the capillary (Figure 5).

   Caution: Horizontal or vertical pressure on the glass capillary during removal could break the capillary.

   
   Figure 5: Removing the Ion Transfer Capillary straight out of the Desolvation Assembly