Marin-5 Operator's Manual - CETAC Technologies

Marin-5 Operator’s Manual
Troubleshooting the Marin-5
background ratios and elemental oxide levels (such as CeO with
ICP-MS).
• Liquid accumulation in spray chamber. Replace the peristaltic
pump drain tubing and adjust the pump shoe pressure to be
slightly firm. Inspect the pump tubing on a daily basis and replace
as required especially when it becomes worn and flattened.
3 Poor precision.
• Poor precision is often due to improperly set nebulizer gas flow. If
the imprecision is characterized by large, periodic drops in signal
intensity, the cause may be an excessive sample flow rate. More
concentrated samples (>1% dissolved solids) may also cause poor
precision. In addition, such samples may require longer rinse-out
times. Finally, readjustment or replacement of the peristaltic pump
drain tubing may be necessary to improve precision.
4 Nebulizer self-aspiration stops.
• Make certain that the nebulizer gas is turned on, the nebulizer gas
line is leak-free and the proper amount of gas pressure (at least 40
psi) is being delivered to the nebulizer.
• The nebulizer capillary may be irreversibly clogged or damaged.
Contact CETAC Technologies for a replacement capillary.
Plasma Problems
Plasma is unstable or will not start.
• The most likely cause of plasma instability is a gas leak in the
Marin-5. Check all gas line connections. Make sure all connections
are tight and correct. Very high gas flow may also cause plasma
instability. Refer to Chapter 4, “Verifying Installation.”
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