Safety Practices and Hazards 
Agilent 240/280 Series AA (including Zeeman)  17 
 
Figure 1. System setup diagram 
Compressed gases and cylinders for flame operation 
This spectrometer must only be used with air, nitrous oxide, and acetylene for 
flame operation. 
Never use oxygen or oxygen-enriched air as the oxidant because this results in an 
explosion. 
Never use any gas except acetylene as the fuel gas. 
Acetylene 
Unskilled, improper, or careless use of acetylene can create explosion hazards and 
fire hazards that can result in death, severe personal injury, or burns. 
Use acetylene at pressures lower than 105 kPa (15 psig). At pressures above this 
level, acetylene can explode spontaneously. Your Agilent AA is designed to operate 
at fuel supply pressures between 65 and 100 kPa (9.5–14.5 psig). Refer to the 
‘Specifications’ section or the rear of the instrument for the exact range and 
recommended pressure. 
Do not use any tubing or connector that reacts chemically with acetylene. Never 
pass acetylene through copper tubing, or brass tubing or fittings containing more 
than 65% copper, since this may provoke an explosion. Never bring acetylene into 
direct contact with copper, silver, liquid mercury, gaseous chlorine, or grease, as an 
explosion could result. 
system 
operating 
adjuster 
Drain tubing must slope downwards 
for full length with no kinks 
above the highest liquid level 
Wide waste vessel opening 
waste vessel in  
full view of the 
operator