Chromatography Forum

I'm going to be taking down an Agilent 1100 single quad this week to clean out TEA. I went through a previous post from 2004 to sort out the location of the contamination.

So, when I infused a 50% MeOH solution, I still saw the TEA contamination. However, when I did a diagnostic, "MSD Background Test Chart" without a pump running or infusion, I did not see the TEA signal. Does anyone know more about this diagnostic test? I'm wondering if this test means I should focus on the up front components- source and capillary- instead of disassembling the entire unit. I have cleaned up MS traps in the past, and I feel comfortable doing the work if it's needed.

Does anyone have a suggested reagent for removing the TEA? I've seen formic acid, IPA, nitric, MeOH in previous posts.

I am planning to spend a good day on the cleaning.

thanks!

I'm going to be taking down an Agilent 1100 single quad this week to clean out TEA. I went through a previous post from 2004 to sort out the location of the contamination.

So, when I infused a 50% MeOH solution, I still saw the TEA contamination. However, when I did a diagnostic, "MSD Background Test Chart" without a pump running or infusion, I did not see the TEA signal. Does anyone know more about this diagnostic test? I'm wondering if this test means I should focus on the up front components- source and capillary- instead of disassembling the entire unit. I have cleaned up MS traps in the past, and I feel comfortable doing the work if it's needed.

Does anyone have a suggested reagent for removing the TEA? I've seen formic acid, IPA, nitric, MeOH in previous posts.

I am planning to spend a good day on the cleaning.

thanks!

I know on my ABSciex 3200 if I have no liquid flow through the source I really don't see anything as far as spectra goes. If you see it when infusing then odds are it is in the lines and down through the source. An Agilent service guy once told me that when he sets up an LCMSMS he makes a mixture of IPA, Cyclohexane, Acetonitrile and I want to say DI Water(not sure if the cyclohexane will remain in solution with water though) in equal parts and lets that pump through the system overnight to clean out new instruments before he ever begins the validation of the install. He said it will clean out most anything that could get into the system. I could be wrong on the water as it could have been Methanol instead.