Chromatography Forum

Hello Bright Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have a CompiPal that has broken it's SPME syringe after the adsorption step has completed. The AS raises itself out of the vial, it doesn't fully retract up. Then as the AS moves to the injection phase of the process and bends the needle and breaks the SPME fiber as it attempts to move to the injection port.

These are expensive things. So we are struggling to find where in the documentation can you calibrate, check or troubleshoot this problem.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Timothy

Worn elastic bands in the combipal.

Worn elastic bands in the combipal.

Is (only) one of several possible causes.

First you need to check the alignment at every position that the syringe has to go to.

Check that the shaft of the SPME holder is not sticking (if the fiber is not retracting all the way), and that the syringe is properly mounted on the carrier.

Some types of vial septum are difficult for the needle to penetrate, butyl rubber is the worse.

Check that you are not overtightening the septa of the headspace vials or the inlet.

This is a perennial problem and there is lots in the archives - try a search.

Peter

First check I would made are the elastic bands to.

Thanks for all the responses .... we ordered replacement injector bands.

Timothy

Because the old ones were broken?

if you need a quick fix just te keep you up and running until the replacements arrive you can tie a new knot in the band, just to make them a little bit shorter.

Not broken but stretched....iImothy