Rookie needing help with GC/MS

[archv3]

I am needing some major help. My boss gave me the task of getting our one and only gc ms up and going. The problem is I have no experience with MS. He knows this so he does not expect alot all at once. Its more of a learning experience. So far I have done the autotune and air and water test. I am using an Agilent 5975C MSD. both of those pass with flying colors. I need to know the next step or steps I need to take. We are OFN that I can do a s/n test. I dont know what parameters I should use. Really any help would be great. Thanks Drew

[R13]

To look at the user manual is a good idea in such cases.

Look at "Verifying EI System Performance" in the Hardware instalation manual (available also on-line)- procedure is described in it -parameters needed for the measurement, Agilent sample part number (concentration of the analyte is also listed so You can prepare own solution). Even when You use different column the result should be quite similar. Look trough the Chemstation directories, very likely there is a method file already prepared and ready to use.

Expected value is in specification 5988-9991EN available on-line.
This is for more "formal" approach.

Other possibility is to repeat some method alredy measured at Your lab before (if any) or reproduce properly described method from document/article You are intending to use. Compare the chromatograms (and spectra, but since tune is OK it is highly unlikely that something could go wrong with the spectra) from Your measurement and literature.
Check the agreement of the retention times, chromatographic peak shape.

[archv3]

Thanks R13 for the info. I am going to search for those online. One problem is my company bought the MS about a year ago and have never got it up and going. Then they put a rookie on the project.

[AICMM]

archv3,

You may not like this, but it would be very cost effective to get some outside help. You could spend hours and hours sorting through things and end up with an analysis that is not very robust or you could pay someone for a 1/2 day or day and be in much better shape. Depending on where you are located there are a number of companies that I could recommend. Especially since the instrument has been idle for so long.

Best regards,

AICMM

[biomass]

archv3,

You may not like this, but it would be very cost effective to get some outside help. You could spend hours and hours sorting through things and end up with an analysis that is not very robust or you could pay someone for a 1/2 day or day and be in much better shape. Depending on where you are located there are a number of companies that I could recommend. Especially since the instrument has been idle for so long.

Best regards,

AICMM

Can you tell me these companies? Currently, I'm also looking such companies, thanks! And the GC/MS type is GC Varian 3800/ MS Saturn 2000. I'm in Houston, TX area.