Maintenance

Refer to the Cary 60 instruction manual for maintenance steps.

Removing the syringe

If the software is communicating with the syringe actuator, you can remove the syringe from the 12-way valve by clicking Change Syringe in the program and following the instructions in the software. You can also remove the 12-way valve together with the syringe with the following procedure.

  1. Remove the lock screw on the bottom of the syringe.

  2. Use a 5/64” hex key to unscrew the two screws that recess into the valve.

    Do not remove the three screws that are close to the surface; great caution should be exercised not to touch any of these three screws.

If the software is not communicating with the pump, you can remove the 12-way valve together with the syringe.

Cleaning the flow cell

Keeping the flow cell quartz windows clean can greatly improve data quality. Dirt, oil, and other contaminants can block and/or scatter the light passing through the cell. Removal of these contaminants is essential to allowing the system to run properly.

You can use ethanol or isopropanol (ethyl or isopropyl alcohol; 70% to 91%), hereafter "alcohol", DI water, cuvette cleaning solution, Kimwipes®, and a 30-mL syringe to clean the cell. Follow this procudure:

  1. Turn off the circulating water bath, drain the water, and disconnect the water bath lines and inlet tubing from the connector.

  2. Disconnect the temperature sensor cable from the temperature sensor.

  3. Disconnect the waste tube from the waste bottle, but leave it connected to the flow cell.

  4. Remove the water-jacketed flow cell from the spectrophotometer.

  5. Disconnect the tube at the inlet of the flow cell.

    Be sure that the O-ring comes out with the tube fitting. Do not lose the O-ring. Older units may have multiple O-rings; collect all of them.

  6. Add 5 to 10 drops of cuvette cleaning solution into 20 mL of DI water.

  7. Fill a syringe with the cuvette cleaner/DI water solution.

  8. Connect the syringe to the flow cell inlet and fill the cell with the solution.

  9. Allow to stand for 5 minutes.

  10. Connect the waste tube to a waste bottle and thoroughly rinse the flow cell with DI water.

  11. Use a Kimwipe to wipe the outside windows with alcohol, and then use a dry Kimwipe to dry the window.

  12. Reconnect the tubing to the inlet of the flow cell.

  13. Return the water-jacketed flow cell to the spectrophotometer and mount it on the rail.

  14. Reconnect water bath lines to the water jacket and the temperature sensor cable to the temperature sensor.