Removing the Ion Transfer Capillary from Triple Quadrupole LC/MS Systems Equipped With a Gate Valve

Answer

This Information Applies To: Agilent 6400 Series triple quadrupole LC/MS systems equipped with a gate valve. 

Issue

Removing the Ion Transfer Capillary for maintenance on instruments with gate valve. The gate valve allows ion capillary removal and installation without having to vent the instrument.

Required Items

• Clean powder-free nitrile gloves
• Capillary puller tool (supplied with your triple quadrupole LC/MS with a gate valve installed)
  
  

Steps to follow

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

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

2. Put on clean powder-free nitrile gloves before opening the ion source.

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

3. Open the spray chamber.

4. Carefully test that the spray shield is cool to the touch then remove the spray shield and capillary end cap as shown in Figure 1.

 
Figure 1 Removing the spray shield and end cap from the desolvation assembly of the mass spectrometer.

 
Figure 2. Arrow showing open collet on the capillary puller tool.

5. Screw the capillary puller tool fully into the spray shield mount using the installation knob. Then push collet assembly over capillary and tighten by holding the puller handle and turning the collet clamping knob clockwise. See Figure 3.

Figure 3. Installing the capillary puller tool on the desolvation assembly and tightening the collet on the end of the capillary in preparation of removal.

6. Pull on the puller handle until the collet assembly is fully retracted and stops moving. Visually check by looking through the slots in the tool body that the capillary has been pulled out by the collet. See Figure 4.

7. Slide the lock button of the gate valve actuator lever towards the back of the instrument with one hand (finger). With your other hand, lift the actuator lever until it fully stops. Release the lock button. See Figure 4.

 
Figure 4. Fully retracting the collet assembly and then closing the gate valve using the actuator lever.

8. Unscrew the tool from the spray shield mount. Carefully pull the tool straight out to avoid applying any bending forces to the capillary. See Figure 5.

Figure 5. Unscrewing the puller tool from the spray shield mount and pulling the capillary straight out of the desolvation assembly.

Caution: Perform the next step over a clean bench or other working surface to reduce the chance of breaking a capillary by dropping it from the collet.

9. Hold the puller handle and rotate the collet clamping knob two to three turns counterclockwise (anticlockwise) to loosen the collet. Push the collet clamping knob while holding the puller handle to free the capillary from the collet. See Figure 6.

Figure 6. Removing the capillary from the capillary puller tool.

For instructions on cleaning the ion capillary see How to Clean the Ion Capillary in Agilent 6000 Series LC/MS Instruments . For instruction on re-installing your ion capillary, see Installing an Ion Capillary in Triple Quadrupole LC/MS Systems Equipped With a Gate Valve .

Learn how to effectively maintain your Agilent LC/MS: LCMS-6400-1201s - Essential Housekeeping Tasks and Best Practices for Agilent 6400 Series LC/TQ e-learning course available from Agilent education