Instrument Troubleshooting
The dial on the heat sealer may not be turned up high enough. In order to seal the F57 Filter Bag, the dial must be set at approximately "4" while the XT4 Filter Bag is sealed at a setting of "6." Different lab conditions may effect the proper setting. Experiment with a bag to "dial in" the correct setting.
The heating element is broken. On the sides of the Teflon cover are two shiny metal strips that keep the cover in place. Loosen the screws that keep the strips tight to the base of the heat sealer and remove the Teflon cover. Check to see if there is a break in the heating element. If there is, take the extra heating element from the box that the heat sealer came in and replace the defective element. Additional elements can be ordered from ANKOM Technology.
The Insulator is not properly installed. The insulator should be installed to ensure that the heating element does not touch any of the metal on the base of the heat sealer.
The vent tube or drain tube is blocked- The blockage is caused by water trapped in the line. It is very important that the vent and drain tubes are running downhill, and are not submerged in water. If the vent tube is blocked, a vacuum is created and the vessel cannot drain.
There is a faulty drain valve- If tubes are functioning properly contact ANKOM for instruction in testing the
drain valve.
Possible Causes:
Instrument was not properly filled- make sure the acid was put in the instrument and that the water supply is on.
There is a filling or draining problem-To investigate, run the following test:
- Add 500ml of water to the vessel and run a 60
minute hydrolysis.
- Check the water level every 5 minutes during the hydrolysis to make sure that the water has not boiled away or that the water has not drained from the may have a leak.
- After the hydrolysis, make sure the solution completely drains and the heat is off.
- During the first rinse step, make sure the vessel has been automatically filled with water. If this does not occur, the water valve may not be functioning. Contact ANKOM for assistance.
- Check the water level during the rinses and make sure the water only drains during the "Drain Cycle"
- If this test does not provide answers, contact ANKOM Tech Support with your results.
To best assist you, it is helpful to know the following:
Replacement of the dryer completely depends upon how often it is used to dry hydrolysis samples.The best method for determining filter capability is to cut out a 3" X 6" piece of cardboard and then cut out a 1" diameter circle in the middle of the cardboard.
Turn on the dryer with the filter in place. Lay the cardboard directly on top of hole. Then lay a mini thermo-anemometer (part # 45118 airflow meter from www.extech.com) over the hole. The air speed should be in excess of 9 mph. When the air speed is less than 9 mph, it is time to replace it.
Another sure sign that it is time to change filters is when the filter bags do not dry sufficiently after Hydrolysis at 110° C in 3 hours (pH paper in the desiccant pouch shows
acid presence).
When using the Mojonnier mixture of solvents, a black residue may build up on the bottom of the vessel. If this coating becomes too thick, an "Overtemp Fault""<ENTER>" may occur. The black residue can be cleaned using a drill with a long shafted stiff wire bursh. This type of brush (Power Brush) can be purchased from http://www.mcmaster.com. It may be helpful to pour a little of the solvent into the vessel when using the brush. Scotch-Brite Pads may be also be used but require more frequent cleaning. Once the bottom of the vessel has been cleaned, put some solvent on a cloth or paper towel and wipe down the inside of the vessel in an effort to remove any oil residue and particles that have been loosened from the vessel bottom. IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE SOAP IN THE VESSEL.
may be helpful to pour a little of the solvent into the vessel when using the brush. Scotch-Brite Pads may be also be used but require more frequent cleaning. Once the bottom of the vessel has been cleaned, put some solvent on a cloth or paper towel and wipe down the inside of the vessel in an effort to remove any oil residue and particles that have been loosened from the vessel bottom. : DO NOT USE SOAP IN THE VESSEL.may be helpful to pour a little of the solvent into the vessel when using the brush. Scotch-Brite Pads may be also be used but require more frequent cleaning. Once the bottom of the vessel has been cleaned, put some solvent on a cloth or paper towel and wipe down the inside of the vessel in an effort to remove any oil residue and particles that have been loosened from the vessel bottom. : DO NOT USE SOAP IN THE VESSEL.When using the Mojonnier mixture of solvents, a black residue may build up on the bottom of the vessel. If this coating becomes too thick, an "Overtemp Fault""<ENTER>" may occur. The black residue can be cleaned using a drill with a long shafted stiff wire bursh. This type of brush (Power Brush) can be purchased from . It may be helpful to pour a little of the solvent into the vessel when using the brush. Scotch-Brite Pads may be also be used but require more frequent cleaning. Once the bottom of the vessel has been cleaned, put some solvent on a cloth or paper towel and wipe down the inside of the vessel in an effort to remove any oil residue and particles that have been loosened from the vessel bottom. : DO NOT USE SOAP IN THE VESSEL.
Q8. How should the Teflon insert and the Teflon chamber be cleaned?
The Teflon Insert can be cleaned with dishwashing soap, water and a Scotch-Guard Pad. It is very important to rinse the Teflon insert very well and allow it to dry completely before re-using it. A soapy paper towel (or Scotch-Brite Pad for stubborn stains) can be used to clean the Teflon chamber. After cleaning the instrument, fill the chamber with warm, clean water and wipe the walls of the chamber with a clean cloth or paper towel. Close the lid and set the unit for 0 minutes of hydrolysis and 30 minutes of rinse time in order to fully eliminate the soap in the chamber.
The Teflon Insert can be cleaned with dishwashing soap, water and a Scotch-Guard Pad. It is very important to rinse the Teflon insert very well and allow it to dry completely before re-using it. A soapy paper towel (or Scotch-Brite Pad for stubborn stains) can be used to clean the Teflon chamber. After cleaning the instrument, fill the chamber with warm, clean water and wipe the walls of the chamber with a clean cloth or paper towel. Close the lid and set the unit for 0 minutes of hydrolysis and 30 minutes of rinse time in order to fully eliminate the soap in the chamber.
Analytical/ Results Troubleshooting
With Filter Bag Technology, generally larger numbers of filter bags are extracted at a time. As with the beakers, flasks, and crucibles mentioned above, if the bags are placed in a desiccator after drying, each time the lid or door is opened to remove a bag, moist ambient air is introduced. Because the desiccator is opened up to 24 times, the moisture can more readily affect the remaining bags. If a collapsible, ANKOM desiccant pouch is utilized, the air can be pushed out of the pouch each time a filter bag is removed. This technique provides an accurate and precise result. Every month it is possible to place the small desiccant packets into the oven at 100-105C for a few hours to insure that the desiccant is renewed. In addition, to insure the integrity of the desiccant pouch, regular replacement of the zip lock bag should be considered.
Some samples with fats that have low melting point triacylglycerides or emulsifiers may encounter fat migration during hydrolysis.
To improve fat retention, increase the level of Celite to sample ratio. A ratio of up to 7:1 can be used by reducing the amount of sample and increasing the amount of Celite. No more than 1.5g of Celite and sample should be placed in each bag.
The increased volume of Celite inside the bags will limit the number of samples processed in the Hydrolysis chamber to ten.
Reducing the hydrolysis temperature and time may also improve fat retention.
If, after increasing the Celite-to-sample ratio, fat continues to migrate from the bag then a crude fat extraction prior to the hydrolysis may be necessary. By running a crude fat extraction first, the readily available fats are removed before the hydrolysis, but are accounted for. The challenge with this technique is the additional time the process takes.
Fat migration can be detected by placing a blank bag next to suspect samples. Place blank bags next to high fat samples in the holder, and perform the hydrolysis. If a blank bag looses more than 0.0025g of weight during the extraction, this is an indication of fat loss from the neighboring high fat sample during the hydrolysis.