Chromatography Forum

Hi everyone, I hope this question finds you well.

The Chromatography Lab I've been working for almost 1 year has a problem when they turn on the Chromaster 5440 Fluorescence detector. Just about 3 minutes after the startup of the detector a SMELL begins to emerge. IS THIS NORMAL? The senior chromatographer told me is ozone odor, a metal-chlorine-like smell, she said the detector has 10 years of use and everyone says always have had that smell. The detector use has been about 1 day every two months. I've searched about this on google and haven't find answers.

I'm basically asking now because we have a schedule ahead of us of 2 months using the detector 3 days a week and it's already causing a bit of headache and dizziness so we're trying to keep all windows open.

I've worked with 2475 FLD from Waters and no smell. A friend has worked with Agilent 1200 FLD and no smell too, so this is very unusual for me.

Has anyone got a clue of what is happening and how can we cope?

Thanks in advance, best regards from Chile

While I am uncertain about your exact chemical contaminant, but I always have a golden rule when it comes to gases other than pure air-- they're bad for you, full-stop. Anything other than air in your lungs (and nose) is going to have an effect, even if it not immediate or noticeable. You should not be made to work in an environment that is potentially dangerous like this, and I am sorry that you have to be in this situation. It is quite sad that the senior chromatographer is brushing off your issues as they are certainly valid, but is there a laboratory safety advisor or someone that you can talk about this issue to that is outside of your direct laboratory? It is much easier to solve this small issue than to potentially deal with lawsuits over something that could amount to a worn piece of plastic leaking. Can you provide more info on your running buffers, perhaps that will help identify the leaking reagent and the source?

Are you sure the detector has the correct bulb fitted? Fluorescence detectors usually use xenon bulbs to create very high intensity UV light. The vast majority of xenon bulbs have a doped quartz surround that absorbs very-low-wavelength UV (ie. below 190nm, the region where UV is absorbed by oxygen and creates ozone), but I suppose it's possible you've got one that isn't very effective.

Hello TylerSmith123, thank you for your input, it gave me the courage to ask my boss if she could call the detector distributor.

lmh, that's exactly what was happening, we found out the detector light bulb is an "ozone generator" type, we're requesting a different bulb.

Thank you both for your perspective, it has been beyond helpful. Have a great day!

Agreed - I looked, it's supposed to use a Xe bulb. Hitachi can get you the right bulb, or at least a correct spec/part number.