Parts and tools required

  • Seal wash reservoir assembly, including reservoir, reservoir cap, cap plugs, and retaining guide for the seal wash line

  • Seal wash line (silicone tubing) for connection to the seal wash pump; the line is pre-installed to the seal wash outlet of the metering device head

  • Seal wash line (silicone tubing) for connection to the seal wash reservoir

TIP

To avoid the formation of air bubbles in liquid lines, always place reservoirs in the solvent rack on top of the system stack.

Seal wash system in the Vanquish system (examples with a single split sampler, left: with quaternary pump, right: with binary pump, as example for two-head pump)
Figure: Seal wash system in the Vanquish system (examples with a single split sampler, left: with quaternary pump, right: with binary pump, as example for two-head pump)

No.

Description

1

Seal wash reservoir

2

Seal wash lines in the autosampler (thick tubing), with

2a

Wash line from reservoir to inlet port

2b

Seal wash inlet port (right tubing connector)

2c

Wash line from inlet port to metering device head

2d

Wash line to seal wash pump

3

Metering device head

4

Seal wash pump (peristaltic pump)

5

Seal wash lines in the pump (thin tubing), with:

5a

Wash lines from seal wash pump to pump head (binary pump, dual pump: to left pump head)

5b

Isocratic pump, quaternary pump: Wash line from pump head to seal wash detector

Binary pump, dual pump: Wash line from left pump head to right pump head

5c

Binary pump, dual pump: Wash line from right pump head to seal wash detector

6

Seal wash detector (drop detector)

Preparations

Rinse the seal wash reservoir thoroughly. Use a high-purity solvent for rinsing.

Follow these steps

Setting up the seal wash system comprises the following steps:

  1. Engaging the peristaltic tubing

  2. Connecting the seal wash line between autosampler and pump

  3. Routing the seal wash line to the solvent rack

  4. Connecting the seal wash line to the seal wash reservoir

  5. Flushing the seal wash system

Follow the steps in the respective sections.

Engaging the Peristaltic Tubing

In the pump, engage the peristaltic tubing (PharMed™ tubing) in the seal wash pump:

Seal wash pump
Figure: Seal wash pump

No.

Description

1

Pump lever

2

Pump rotor

3

Tubing holder (peristaltic tubing)

4

Tubing connector

5

Seal wash line from autosampler (silicone tubing)

6

Peristaltic tubing

7

Seal wash tubing to pump head (silicone tubing)

  1. Press down the lever on the seal wash pump and hold it in that position with one hand.

  2. With your other hand, insert the tubing between the lever and the rotor and wind it around the rotor.

  3. Release the lever.

  1. Check that the peristaltic tubing is inserted properly in the tubing holders. If it is not, push the tubing into the holders. Make sure that the tubing is not pinched or squeezed in the holders.

  1. Check that the right tubing connector rests on the tubing holder. If it does not, push the tubing connector onto the holder.

Connecting the Seal Wash Line between Autosampler and Pump

  1. In the autosampler, locate the seal wash line (clear silicone tubing) to the pump:

    • Single split sampler: The seal wash inlet port is located on the top enclosure frame (right tubing connector). The seal wash line to the pump is interconnected to the seal wash inlet port.

    • Dual split sampler: The seal wash inlet port is located on the right enclosure frame (top tubing connector). The seal wash line to the pump interconnects seal wash inlet and outlet port.

  2. Disconnect the seal wash line from the seal wash inlet port.

  3. Route the seal wash line from the seal wash outlet in the autosampler through the tubing guides to the peristaltic tubing in the pump.

    • Single split sampler: The seal wash outlet is located on the bottom end of the metering device.

    • Dual split sampler: The seal wash outlet is located on the right enclosure frame (bottom tubing connector).

  4. Seal wash connections
    Figure: Seal wash connections

    No.

    Description

    A

    Single split sampler: Seal wash connections on the top enclosure frame

    B

    Dual split sampler: Seal wash connections on the right enclosure frame

    1

    Seal wash inlet port

    1a

    Seal wash line to reservoir

    2

    Seal wash outlet

    2a

    Seal wash line to pump

  5. In the pump, connect the seal wash line to the tubing connector on the free end of the peristaltic tubing.

Routing the Seal Wash Line to the Solvent Rack

  1. Locate the seal wash line for connection from the autosampler to the seal wash reservoir.

  2. Connect the seal wash line on the autosampler:

    • Single split sampler: Connect the line to the seal wash inlet port on the top enclosure frame (right tubing connector).

    • Dual split sampler: Connect the line to the seal wash inlet port on the right enclosure frame (top tubing connector).

  1. Route the seal wash line from the autosampler to the solvent rack through the tubing guides in the autosampler and all modules above the autosampler in the system stack.

  2. Route the seal wash line through the guide hole in the solvent rack and fix it in the appropriate tubing guide.

Guide hole and tubing guides in the solvent rack
Figure: Guide hole and tubing guides in the solvent rack

No.

Description

A

Guide hole (solvent rack)

1+2

Not to be used for seal wash line; reserved for other tubing

3

Tubing guide for seal wash line

4

Not to be used for seal wash line; reserved for other tubing

Connecting the Seal Wash Line to the Seal Wash Reservoir

Mind the requirements outlined in Choosing the Seal Wash Liquid.

Wash line and reservoir cap
Figure: Wash line and reservoir cap

No.

Description

1

Wash line

2

Retaining guide

3

Reservoir cap

4

Cap plugs

  1. Feed the wash line through the retaining guide.

  2. Feed the wash line through an open hole in the cap of the wash reservoir. The retaining guide keeps the tubing in place in the reservoir.

  3. Close any open holes in the reservoir cap with cap plugs.

  1. Fill the wash reservoir with wash liquid.

  2. Tighten the reservoir cap hand-tight. Press the retaining guide into the hole in the reservoir cap so that the tubing is kept in place in the cap.

  3. Place the wash reservoir in the solvent rack.

  4. Position the wash lines straight in the tubing guides.

  1. Check the wash lines over the entire flow path:

  1. Make sure that no bending (kink), pinching or squeezing of the wash lines is present at any point in the flow path.
  2. If you have to cut tubing to length, use a tubing cutter. Make sure that the cut is at right angle to the length of the line.

Flushing the Seal Wash System

To flush the seal wash system, follow the procedure in Flushing the Seal Wash System.