When required
Weekly or whenever symptoms indicate contamination in the spray chamber and the normal daily cleaning does not correct the problem.
Tools required
Abrasive paper, 8000 grit, 8660-0852
Cloth, clean, lint-free, 05980-60051
Cotton swabs, 5080-5400
Gloves, clean
Isopropanol, reagent grade or better
Mobile phase, current
Wash bottle
Water, reagent-grade or better
Parts required
None

  1. Recent residue should be soluble in the mobile phase. If you are not sure what mobile phase was used recently, a mixture of 50% isopropanol and 50% water works well as a general cleaning solution.
  2. Turn off the spray chamber.
  3. The APCI spray chamber operates at high temperatures. Allow sufficient time to cool down.
  4. Remove the corona needle.
  5. Make sure the needle has cooled and then carefully clean it with abrasive paper.
  6. Open the spray chamber.
  7. Rinse the interior of the spray chamber with the current mobile phase or with a mixture of isopropanol and water.
  8. Some mobile phases are dangerous. Use caution that is appropriate for the current mobile phase.
  9. Do not spray the mobile phase upward into the vaporizer.
  10. Wipe the interior of the spray chamber and the end of the vaporizer with a clean cloth.
  11. Remove the spray shield.
  12. Use abrasive paper to gently clean the end of the capillary cap.
  13. Dampen a clean cloth and wipe the end of the capillary cap.
  14. Reinstall the spray shield.
  15. Use abrasive paper to gently clean the spray shield.
  16. Dampen a clean cloth and wipe the spray shield.
  17. Rinse the area around the spray shield.
  18. Do not spray directly at the end of the capillary. This can cause pressure surges in the vacuum system.
  19. Wipe the area around the spray shield with a clean cloth.
  20. Close the spray chamber.
  21. Reinstall the corona needle.