Franklin & Marshall College

1) Open argon gas cylinders (4) on loading dock. Note gas pressure on the left and right gages on the tank manifold above the tanks. If either pressure gage reads zero that means the argon tanks on that side on the manifold are empty. If there are empty tanks check with Steve Sylvester before proceeding.

2) Open spectrometer door and check level of waster container. If more than half full, unscrew the base bottle and dispose of waste.

3) Open blue handled gas flow valve above manifold. The blue handle is in line with the copper gas pipe when the valve is open.

4) Turn on water chiller next to ICP.

5) Turn on exhaust fan.

6) Turn on argon flow valve above the exhaust switch. Pressure on the valve gage should read 100 – 125 psi.

7) Turn on computer - Open Smart Analyzer.

8) Under the System pull down menu open Instrument Generator Parameter dialog box.

9) Purge system with argon gas using the following settings:
12 liter/min coolant
1 liter/min auxiliary
1 liter/min nebulizer

10) To activate the flow of argon purge gas click Apply. Wait two minutes.

11) After two minute purge time click Plasma to turn on plasma. The system will go through an automated start procedure that takes several minutes.

12) Observe the plasma window – if any problems occur during plasma ignition press the Blue Kill Button on the front of the ICP init (to the right and above the plasma window.)

13) Immediately after plasma ignition secure the pump windings and lock the pump arms around the windings. Place nebulizer in distilled water solution.

14) Return to Instrument Generator Parameters dialog box and press Pump. The pump will start turning. Remember – liquid must be aspirated at all times when the plasma is on.

15) Close dialog box. Under the Applications pull down menu select Measure Window. Select the application you will be using. Allow 30 minute warm up before collecting data.

ICP SHUT DOWN INSTRUCTIONS
1) After last sample aspirate distilled water for 5 minutes to clean torch.

2) Under the System pull down menu open the Instrument Generator Parameter dialog box.

3) Click on Plasma. This will initiate a controlled shut down of the plasma and automatically shut the pump off.

4) After the Plasma Off signal appears in the dialog box open pump arms and release pump windings.

5) Turn off water chiller.

6) Turn off exhaust fan.

7) Close argon flow valve above fan switch.

8) Close the valves of all four argon tanks on the loading dock. Close argon flow valve above the manifold.

EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN
If you have any concern that the ICP is not functioning correctly initiate an emergency shut down by pressing the Blue Kill Button on the upper right of the front of the ICP unit, then get help.