Chromatography Forum

I have an Antek (PAC) model 8060 nitrogen chemiluminescence detector (acronym CLND). I believe there is a community of us using this technology who no longer have access to manufacturer's technical assistance and who could possibly help each other through a forum here. I just recently registered here. Are there any others who use the 8060 who would like to see a forum for users here?

Yes, I also have an Antek 8060 and would be happy to be part of such a group. Although I've used it for years, the CLND still finds ways to surprise me with new troubleshooting issues. For example, it currently seems to be running well but is not giving an equimolar response for compounds for which it often has done so in the past (caffeine, acetaminophen, KNO3, and dinitrobenzoic acid). This is the case even without an HPLC column.

Hi Rusty,
My most recent problem was reduced/no response for our caffeine standard. We had to shut down to allow service to the thermoelectric chiller. Afterwards, response was normal (and not because of the chiller). Maybe it needed some time off! A colleague, who was the next user after me, believed that I had not adjusted the nebulizer spray correctly. So, you could check that for fluctuating or pulsing spray. The manual lists all sorts of other problems without assigning a reasonable probability to any. A failing nafion drying tube and then a cracked pyrotube is where I would look next.
I am just getting accustomed to navigating around this forum. Looks like others have already been talking about similar issues under different topic titles. I had to do a search on CLND to find our topic again.
I noticed someone asked about whether the CLND response time was adequate for it's use with UHPLC. Response time doesn't seem to be listed in the manual with other performance characteristics. Since most people run the CLND in series with a uv detector, I suppose problems would soon be apparent. We mainly use our CLND with a conventional HPLC to quantify components in fairly simple solutions.

Bill

We have on 8060 CLND coupled with waters UPLC.
Recently we had a problem that when we turn on both O2 and Ar gas tanks, it gives numbers ob digital panel with Ar”000”, and O2”286”. The correct digital panel should show Ar=050, and O2=286.
When we turn off both gases, it shows “011", or "012” on both Argon and O2.
Have someone experienced the same issue, please?

Hi,
Your O2 value was 286 (normally 286) with gas flowing . . . or was that a "typo" and its value is not as expected as well?

0 for argon . . . is the impurities trap between the tank and instrument functioning well? If you disconnect the outlet from the trap can you detect gas flowing?

What was the last sequence of operations done before things began to stop working?

If there is a mass flow controller or circuit board problem you may need to contact a service company (in Canada, that would be Folio Instruments , 1-800-683-6546).

I will ask some others for ideas where I work.

Bill

@BillH: Thank you so much for your reply and suggestions!
The O2 reading was 286, and still remains the correct value 286 when I turn on the gas supply. Just the Ar value is 0, which is not correct.
The weird thing is if we shut off both O2 and Ar supply, both values of Ar and O2 readings jump at 011 or 012, not go to 000.

The last run was last Friday, everything looks fine and we shut off the gas supply, which we usually do every weekend. This Monday morning, Ar panel was not happy . We may have a power off in lab due to thunderstorm last Sunday night, but nobody knows whether it happened or not in lab.

I can not figure which is the impurity trap. The gases are connected through the white line directly to the cylinders. I took a photo of the inside. How can I upload a picture here?

I am in US. The service company PAC is not that helpful. We have a service contract with them and contacted them but so far no helpful responses from them and nobody shows up for repair.

Yan

Hi LY,
If you read page 26 of the manual (Model 8060 Start Up; Detector tray electronics and Mass Flow Controllers), it suggests comparing the nebulizer back pressure with the high and low pressure thresholds (these are accessed with the rotary switch . . . low (pressure threshold) setting, high (pressure threshold) setting, pressure (actual back pressure when spraying).

If there is a nebulizer blockage, then the actual back pressure will equal the high pressure threshold. There will be no flow. The Ar readout will be zero, since it indicates flow. When you attach the LC and start pumping, does the LC pressure seem higher than usual? Do droplets appear at the sprayer tip?

If the back pressure is lower than the low pressure threshold, then there may be a leak in the sprayer. They suggest looking at the gas supply line solder joint, the nebulizer barrel nut, and also checking that the fused silica capillary is still actually there within the nebulizer. Don't look at the end of the sprayer to check that the capillary is there while gases are flowing,- that's dangerous. Disconnect the gases; wear safety glasses; use a magnifier to look at the end. However, one would think that the mass flow controller would indicate normal flow,- 50 mL/minute. You are seeing zero flow, so I don't think there is a leak in the nebulizer.

To do these checks you don't need the LC flowing through the nebulizer, but the gas quick connect does need to be attached, the gases turned on at the tanks, and the mass flow controllers verified to be set correctly (Inlet O2 and Inlet AR, using the rotary switch).

Any luck with PAC or Antek or whoever is in charge?

Bill

Hi Bill

Thank you very much for your reply.
Yes, you are correct. the nebulizer was not blocked. We finally solved the problem by reboot the power switch after 30s shut down. The oven was still on. And it worked!
The PAC person (JP) who came here was a very friendly and knowledgeable guy. He told us the age of oven may be arround 1 year, depends on usage. The pyrotube could be 5-10 years. Many pieces of salt rocks were taken from pyrotube.