Chromatography Forum

The 6410 QQQ in our lab has the capillary clogged and the signal is gone. Normally, we take out the capillary and clean it. But this time, it's so plugged that the system could not vent, and it's very difficult to get the capillary out. How can I vent it now?

Thanks

When you vent the QQQ, in the software, ensure that the all the turbo-molecular pumps have spun down.

repeat: make sure the Turbos have stopped spinning, If you can't then don't do the following.

Once Turbos have spun down !!!

Turn the power off to the QQQ, this should be supplying power to the roughing pump also.

clean the connector between the roughing pump and vacuum hose from any dust/debris, as you will be undoing the clamp, and these will get sucked back up the vacuum hose, which you don't want to happen.

once clean, undo the clamp, clean some more GENTLY, once clean, break the seal between the roughing pump and vacuum line, this will re-pressurise the MS chamber, allowing you to remove the glass capillary.

reconnect the seal between the roughing pump and vacuum line, to stop anything getting into the roughing pump.

remove the glass capillary.

Alex

Thank you very much for the help.
I at first also thought of that, but still afraid it may harm the turbo pump.
Maybe in the next model, Agilent should make a vent knob just like the GC/MS.