User`s guide

Routine Maintenance
277
Cold Trap Maintenance
Conditioning the Trap
NOTE: See Tube Conditioning and Figure 87, in the chapter
Theory of Thermal Desorption of this User’s Guide.
You may need to condition the trap if you have just installed a new
trap or if you are encountering carry-over problems. In trap
condition mode, a tube is not desorbed.
The trap is heated to the trap high temperature for the duration of the
trap hold time specified in the method. The volatiles desorbed from
the trap are vented through the Inlet Split. Ensure there is an
adequate flow of carrier gas through the trap before beginning a trap
clean cycle.
To condition the cold trap:
1. Select the Status tab and select Options to open the
Options tab.
2. Select Trap Clean as the operating mode.
3. Select the Temperature tab and enter the Trap low and
high temperatures. Also enter a heating rate.
4. Enter a temperature for the heated valve and for the
transfer line.
5. Select the Timing tab and select the Trap button set the
Trap Hold time.
6. Save the trap conditioning method. Open the Tools
menu and select Save As. Press the filename to open the
alpha-numeric entry tab. Enter a name (use the
backspace key to clear the field) for the method and
press OK.
7. Press OK to save the new method.
8. All other settings will be not be used while the ATD/TD
is in trap condition mode.
9. Allow the ATD/TD to reach its set points and then load a
tube and press Start.