ICP Expert Help
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Turning On the Agilent ICP-OES and Preparing for Analysis

Before starting your ICP-OES system, it is strongly recommended that you carefully read the Safety practices and hazards section of your ICP-OES User's Guide and ensure that the laboratory is set up according to the ICP-OES specifications as stated in the Agilent ICP-OES Site Preparation Guide.

Follow the steps below to start up and prepare the instrument for analysis.

  1. Start up your ICP-OES
    1. Turning on the instrument for the first time (or from long term shutdown), or
    2. Running the instrument from an idle state
  2. Prepare for analysis

Turning on the instrument for the first time (or from long term shutdown)

To turn on the instrument for the first time or from shutdown:

  1. Check that the exhaust and External Inlet Duct Adapter (if used) lines are secured to the ICP-OES instrument, and that the air filter is not blocked.
  2. Turn on the laboratory exhaust system.
  3. Ensure the gas and water lines are connected to the ICP-OES instrument.
  4. Turn on the gas supply and set to the correct pressure.
  5. Switch on the water chiller.
  6. Ensure that the water supply is turned on and set to the correct pressure, and that the water chiller is set to the correct temperature.
  7. Check that the torch is clean and in good condition, and installed with the torch handle fully closed.
  8. Check that all tubing on the spray chamber, nebulizer and peristaltic pump is installed and correctly connected.
  9. Check that the plasma compartment door is fully closed.
  10. Check that the Ethernet LAN cable is connected to the computer or Local Area Network.
  11. Switch on the computer, monitor and printer.
  12. Plug the ICP-OES power cable into the wall socket and set the mains power switch on the left side of the instrument to 'On'.
  13. Press the Power on/off switch on the front of the instrument. The LED will display green when it is on. The spectrometer is now in the standby state, which continually purges and thermostatically controls the polychromator.

Both the mains power switch on the left side of the instrument and front panel power switch must be on for the instrument to work. Starting the instrument to be ready for analysis from long term shut down will take several hours due to the gas purge and polychromator thermal stabilization time.
  1. To start the ICP Expert software, double-click the ICP Expert desktop icon. The Start page will appear.

Running the instrument from standby

During a standby state (both power switches are 'On'), the polychromator temperature is regulated and polychromator gas purge is running to ensure the instrument is ready for analysis within 20 minutes of lighting the plasma.

To begin using the instrument from an idle state:

  1. Turn on the laboratory exhaust system.
  2. Check that the torch is clean and in good condition, and installed with the torch handle fully closed.
  3. Check that all tubing on the spray chamber, nebulizer and peristaltic pump is installed and correctly connected.
  4. Check that the torch compartment door is fully closed.
  5. Switch on the monitor and printer (if they are off).
  6. Switch on the water chiller (if it is off). 
  7. If you have accessories fitted, switch them on.
  8. To start the ICP Expert software, double-click the ICP Expert desktop icon. The Start page will appear.

Preparing for analysis

To prepare for analysis:

  1. Set up the sample introduction area, if not already setup.
  2. Place the sample tubing from the peristaltic pump into the rinse solution and the drain tubing into the drainage vessel.
  3. Connect the ICP Expert software to the instrument, if required. See Connect the ICP-OES to the Software for more information.
    1. Click Instrument in the ICP Expert software toolbar.
    2. Click Connect.
    3. Select the instrument from the list or click New connection and then enter the IP address of the instrument.

    If only one instrument is going to be used with the PC, click 'Auto-connect' to automatically connect the software to the instrument.
  4. Click the Plasma button in the ICP Expert software. Alternatively, press F5 or choose Plasma on from the arrow under the Plasma button.
  5. Click the Pump button in the ICP Expert software and choose Normal (15 rpm) from the arrow under the Pump button. The pump will be initialized and the solution will begin aspirating.

Hot Surfaces - Noxious Fumes - Non-Ionizing Radiation
Burn danger, inhalation hazard. The plasma emits heat, ozone and fumes, which can be hazardous. Always switch on the exhaust system before lighting the plasma.

The plasma ignition sequence will take approximately 60-80 seconds to complete. If the plasma fails to ignite, refer to the Troubleshooting section in the Help for further information.

Ensure the spray chamber and nebulizer are connected to the torch before igniting the plasma.

For optimum performance and stability, for the ICP-OES instrument a warm up time of 20 minutes is recommended after igniting the plasma.

If using wavelengths below 189 nm: purging the polychromator can take up to several hours. The polychromator thermal stabilization can take up to several hours from long term shutdown.

 

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