6 General Maintenance
Before Starting
5977C GC/MSD Operating Manual 143
Dangerous temperatures
Many parts in the MSD operate at, or reach, temperatures high enough to cause
serious burns. These parts include, but are not limited to:
• GC inlet
• GC oven and its contents
• GC detector
• GC valve box
• Foreline pump
• Heated MSD ion source, GC/MSD interface, and quadrupole
The GC inlets and GC oven also operate at very high temperatures. Use the same
caution around these parts. See the documentation supplied with your GC for
more information.
Chemical residue
Only a small portion of your sample is ionized by the ion source. The majority of
any sample passes through the ion source without being ionized. It is pumped
away by the vacuum system. As a result, the exhaust from the foreline pump will
contain traces of the carrier gas and your samples. Exhaust from the standard
foreline pump also contains tiny droplets of foreline pump oil.
An oil trap is supplied with the standard foreline pump. This trap stops only pump
oil droplets. It does not trap any other chemicals. If you are using toxic solvents
or analyzing toxic chemicals, do not use this oil trap. For all foreline pumps,
Never touch these parts while your MSD is on. After the MSD is turned off, give
these parts enough time to cool before handling them.
The GC/MSD interface heater is powered by a thermal zone on the GC. The
interface heater can be on, and at a dangerously high temperature, even
though the MSD is off. The GC/MSD interface is well insulated. Even after it is
turned off, it cools very slowly.
The foreline pump can cause burns if touched when operating. It has a safety
shield to prevent the user from touching it.
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