block GC-MS transfer line

[carras]

Hello everybody, I need some help.
The transfer line in my Agilent 5973N is completely blocked and I can’t insert my column. I have tried to push the block out with a wire and a 0.53 mm column but to no avail. I have also sonicated it in water, ethanol and ethanol/acetone with the same result: it is still blocked. To a certainty the block is due to vespel/graphite ferrule fragments since I had the same problem some time ago (I could break the block then with a wire).
I’d greatly appreciate any suggestions.

[bhuvfe]

Carras,

I wasn't aware you could remove the transfer line of a 5973 and sonicate it.

Anyway, when something similar happened few years ago I used a stainless
steel HPLC tubing and some patience to push the remains of ferrules out of the transfer line. You might want to keep the transfer line not at room temperature. Over 100-150 C for few minutes, and then pushing with the wire/tubing might do the trick.

Good luck.
bhuvfe

[chhubert]

Yes, me too. I remembered last time when the vespel ferrule residue stuck inside the transferline. It was pretty hard to push it out using some sort of hard wire/stick. You know, use "force" is sometime necessary. Good luck, or a set of transfer line may cost you a fortune.

[Peter Apps]

Hi Carras

Just pushing will probably jam everything in tighter. Get a piece of stiff steel wire (does not have to be stainless) and file one end to look like a screwdriver with a sharp edge. Bend a little handle onto the other end, poke it into the transfer line and when it hits the obstruction start twisting. With any luck the sharp edge will scrape away enough of the vespel to get it loose. Needless to say you need to clean everything very thoroughly before you re-install it.

Peter

[carras]

Hello again. Finally the technical service from Agilent could solve the problem using a wire and a power tool to drill through the blockage.