22 5975 Series MSD Operation Manual for MassHunter
1 Introduction
Dangers unique to GC/MSD operation
Hydrogen presents a number of dangers. Some are general, others are unique
to GC or GC/MSD operation. Dangers include, but are not limited to:
• Combustion of leaking hydrogen.
• Combustion due to rapid expansion of hydrogen from a high-pressure
cylinder.
• Accumulation of hydrogen in the GC oven and subsequent combustion (see
your GC documentation and the label on the top edge of the GC oven door).
• Accumulation of hydrogen in the MSD and subsequent combustion.
Hydrogen accumulation in an MSD
All users should be aware of the mechanisms by which hydrogen can
accumulate (Table 4) and know what precautions to take if they know or
suspect that hydrogen has accumulated. Note that these mechanisms apply to
all mass spectrometers, including the MSD.
WARNING
The MSD cannot detect leaks in inlet and/or detector gas streams. For this reason,
it is vital that column fittings should always be either connected to a column or have
a cap or plug installed.
Table 4 Hydrogen accumulation mechanisms
Mechanism Results
Mass spectrometer turned off A mass spectrometer can be shut down
deliberately. It can also be shut down accidentally
by an internal or external failure. A mass
spectrometer shutdown does not shut off the flow
of carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen may slowly
accumulate in the mass spectrometer.
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