PCX5200 User’s Manual Chapter 3
3-4
reagent to the Teflon tubing. Each of these tubings has a 1/4-28 nut and ferrule
already in place. There are three fittings on each bottle cap; the reagent tubing goes
to the fitting on the side of the bottle cap, facing the on/off valve.
Note: Ensure that the reagent outlet and gas lines connected to an OPA or Trione
reservoir are Saran (amber color). Saran tubing is necessary because of its low
permeability to oxygen.
3. Optionally, place a small plastic container (in case of spills) on top of the PCX5200
and put the reservoir(s) in it.
Caution: The reagent bottles are specially coated with a protective polymer to ensure
operator safety if the reservoirs should become over-pressurized. Non-coated bottles
must not be substituted in the PCX5200 system. Replacement 1 L, 2 L, or 5 L
reagent bottles may be ordered directly from Pickering Laboratories.
You may use either of two ways to connect the pressure sensor to the HPLC system.
1. Standard method for most applications and HPLC systems.
Using 1/16 inch x 0.020 inch ID capillary tubing, connect the outlet of the HPLC
pump directly to the pressure sensor on the post-column panel. The connection is
labelled “From Pump.”
Using 1/16 inch x 0.020 inch ID capillary tubing, connect the pressure sensor to the
inlet of the injector or autosampler. Use the fitting labelled “To Injector.”
2. Alternate method for amino acid analysis with mobile phases with pH≤3 (to minimize
corrosion of the sensor) or some integrated HPLC systems (to minimize tubing runs).
Use two pieces of 1/16 inch x 0.020 inch ID capillary tubing to connect a tee-fitting
between the outlet of the HPLC pump and the inlet of the injector.
Use a third piece of 1/16 inch x 0.020 inch ID capillary tubing to connect the third
port of the tee to the lower inlet of the pressure sensor on the post-column pressure
panel, labelled “From Pump.”
Install a high-pressure plug in the upper outlet of the pressure sensor, labelled “To
Injector.”
Note on usage: The post-column interlock monitors the eluant pump pressure and turns
OFF electrical power to the post-column reactor, reagent pump, and column oven, when
the eluant pressure drops below 500 psig. (This pressure decrease may occur due to
eluant pump malfunction, empty reservoirs, or a programmed shut-down after the last
sample.) The interlock turns off the reagent pumps to prevent backflow of reagents into
the column, which can ruin the column. The interlock also defaults to OFF when a
power loss occurs. The PCX5200 instrument does not automatically turn on as the
eluant pressure rises above 500 psi. Press the ENABLE button to enable the
instrument.
Pressure-interlock
Connections
1. Standard
2. Alternate
(for Amino
Acids & others)
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