Agilent Technologies 7890A GC User guide

Agilent Technologies
Agilent 7890A GC
Safety Manual

27890A GC Safety Manual
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2007
No part of this manual may be reproduced in
any form or by any means (including elec-
tronic storage and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without prior agree-
ment and written consent from Agilent
Technologies, Inc. as governed by United
States and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
G3430-90013
Edition
First edition, February2007
Printed in USA
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
2850 Centerville Road
Wilmington, DE 19808-1610 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this docu-
ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-
ject to being changed, without notice,
in future editions. Further, to the max-
imum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent disclaims all warranties,
either express or implied, with regard
to this manual and any information
contained herein, including but not
limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be
liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connec-
tion with the furnishing, use, or per-
formance of this document or of any
information contained herein. Should
Agilent and the user have a separate
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document that conflict with these
terms, the warranty terms in the sep-
arate agreement shall control.
Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage
to the product or loss of important
data. Do not proceed beyond a
CAUTION notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and
met.
WARNING
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not correctly per-
formed or adhered to, could result
in personal injury or death. Do not
proceed beyond a WARNING
notice until the indicated condi-
tions are fully understood and
met.

3
Agilent 7890A GC
Safety Manual
Agilent Technologies
1
Introduction
Important Safety Warnings 4
Hydrogen Safety 7
Micro-Electron Capture Detector (µECD) 14
Fuses and batteries 17
Safety and Regulatory Certifications 18
Cleaning 22
Recycling the Product 22

47890A GC Safety Manual
Important Safety Warnings
Before moving on, there are several important safety notices that you should
always keep in mind when using the Agilent 7890A GC.
Many internal parts of the GC carry dangerous voltages
If the GC is connected to a power source, even if the power switch is off,
potentially dangerous voltages exist on:
•The wiring between the GC power cord and the AC power supply, the AC
power supply itself, and the wiring from the AC power supply to the power
switch.
With the power switch on, potentially dangerous voltages also exist on:
•All electronics boards in the instrument.
•The internal wires and cables connected to these boards.
•The wires for any heater (oven, detector, inlet, or valve box).
WARNING When handling/using chemicals for preparation or use within the GC, all applicable
local and national laboratory safety practices must be followed. This would include,
but is not limited to, correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), correct use
of storage vials, and correct handling of chemicals, as defined in the laboratory’s
internal safety analysis and standard operating procedures. Failure to adhere to
laboratory safety practices could lead to injury or death.
WARNING All these parts are shielded by covers. With the covers in place, it should be difficult
to accidentally make contact with dangerous voltages. Unless specifically
instructed to, never remove a cover unless the detector, inlet, or oven are turned off.
WARNING If the power cord insulation is frayed or worn, the cord must be replaced. Contact
your Agilent service representative.

7890A GC Safety Manual 5
Do not use an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with a GC
If the area where the GC is located suddenly looses power, an unsafe condition
can result if the GC remains powered on. Do not use the GC with a UPS.
Electrostatic discharge is a threat to GC electronics
The printed circuit (PC) boards in the GC can be damaged by electrostatic
discharge. Do not touch any of the boards unless it is absolutely necessary. If
you must handle them, wear a grounded wrist strap and take other antistatic
precautions. Wear a grounded wrist strap any time you must remove the GC
right side cover.
Many parts are dangerously hot
Many parts of the GC operate at temperatures high enough to cause serious
burns. These parts include but are not limited to:
•The inlets
•The oven and its contents
•The detectors
•The column nuts attaching the column to an inlet or detector
•The valve box
You should always cool these areas of the GC to room temperature before
working on them. They will cool faster if you first set the temperature of the
heated zone to room temperature. Turn the zone off after it has reached the
setpoint. If you must perform maintenance on hot parts, use a wrench and
wear thermally protective gloves. Whenever possible, cool the part of the
instrument that you will be maintaining before you begin working on it.
WARNING Be careful when working behind the instrument. During cool-down cycles, the GC
emits hot exhaust which can cause burns.

67890A GC Safety Manual
Oven thermal leaks
Do not allow wiring or temperature probes to pass through the oven door jam.
Agilent recommends using one of the access holes.
WARNING The insulation around the inlets, detectors, valve box, and the insulation cups is
made of refractory ceramic fibers. To avoid inhaling fiber particles, we recommend
the following safety procedures: ventilate your work area; wear long sleeves,
gloves, safety glasses, and a disposable dust/mist respirator; dispose of insulation
in a sealed plastic bag; wash your hands with mild soap and cold water after
handling the insulation.
WARNING Objects passing through the oven door seal can cause thermal leaks which create
hazardous hot spots which cause burns and melt equipment.

7890A GC Safety Manual 7
Hydrogen Safety
Hydrogen gas may be used as carrier gas, and/or as fuel for the FID, FPD, and
NPD. When mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.
Hydrogen is a commonly used GC carrier gas. Hydrogen is potentially
explosive and has other dangerous characteristics.
•Hydrogen is combustible over a wide range of concentrations. At
atmospheric pressure, hydrogen is combustible at concentrations from 4%
to 74.2% by volume.
•Hydrogen has the highest burning velocity of any gas.
•Hydrogen has a very low ignition energy.
•Hydrogen that is allowed to expand rapidly from high pressure into the
atmosphere can self-ignite due to an electrostatic spark.
•Hydrogen burns with a nonluminous flame which can be invisible under
bright light.
Hydrogen shutdown
Hydrogen gas may be used as a carrier or as fuel for some detectors. When
mixed with air, hydrogen can form explosive mixtures.
The GC monitors inlet and auxiliary gas streams. If a stream shuts down
because it is unable to reach its flow or pressure setpoint and if that stream is
configured to use hydrogen, the GC assumes that a leak has occurred and
declares a hydrogen safety shutdown. The effects are:
WARNING When using hydrogen (H2) as the carrier gas or fuel gas, be aware that hydrogen
gas can flow into the GC oven and create an explosion hazard. Therefore, be sure
that the supply is turned off until all connections are made and ensure that the inlet
and detector column fittings are either connected to a column or capped at all times
when hydrogen gas is supplied to the instrument.
Hydrogen is flammable. Leaks, when confined in an enclosed space, may create a
fire or explosion hazard. In any application using hydrogen, leak test all
connections, lines, and valves before operating the instrument. Always turn off the
hydrogen supply at its source before working on the instrument.

87890A GC Safety Manual
•The offending channel and any associated channels (such as septum purge)
are set off.
•The split valves in the split/splitless and PTV inlets open.
•The oven (heater and fan) turns off.
•The small heated zones are turned off.
•An alarm tone sounds.
To recover from this state, fix the cause of the shutdown (tank valve closed,
serious leak, others). Turn the instrument off, then back on.
WARNING The GC cannot always 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. The H2streams must be configured for
hydrogen so that the GC is aware of hydrogen use.

7890A GC Safety Manual 9
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 a GC/MSD
All users should be aware of the mechanisms by which hydrogen can
accumulate (Table 1) 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 GC/MSD.
WARNING The GC/MSD cannot always 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. The H2streams must be configured for
hydrogen so that the GC is aware of hydrogen use.
Tabl e 1 Potential hydrogen accumulation mechanisms in GC/MSD
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.

10 7890A GC Safety Manual
Mass spectrometer automated isolation
valves closed
Some mass spectrometers are equipped with
automated diffusion pump isolation valves. In these
instruments, deliberate operator action or various
failures can cause the isolation valves to close.
Isolation valve closure does not shut off the flow of
carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen may slowly
accumulate in the mass spectrometer.
Mass spectrometer manual isolation
valves closed
Some mass spectrometers are equipped with
manual diffusion pump isolation valves. In these
instruments, the operator can close the isolation
valves. Closing the isolation valves does not shut
off the flow of carrier gas. As a result, hydrogen
may slowly accumulate in the mass spectrometer.
GC off A GC can be shut down deliberately. It can also be
shut down accidentally by an internal or external
failure. Different GCs react in different ways. If a
7890A GC equipped with Electronic Pressure
Control (EPC) is shut off, the EPC stops the flow of
carrier gas. If the carrier flow is not under EPC
control, the flow increases to its maximum. This
flow may be more than some mass spectrometers
can pump away, resulting in the accumulation of
hydrogen in the mass spectrometer. If the mass
spectrometer is shut off at the same time, the
accumulation can be fairly rapid.
Power failure If the power fails, both the GC and mass
spectrometer shut down. The carrier gas, however,
is not necessarily shut down. As described
previously, in some GCs a power failure may cause
the carrier gas flow to be set to maximum. As a
result, hydrogen may accumulate in the mass
spectrometer.
Tabl e 1 Potential hydrogen accumulation mechanisms in GC/MSD (continued)
Mechanism Results

7890A GC Safety Manual 11
Precautions
Take the following precautions when operating a GC/MSD system with
hydrogen carrier gas.
Equipment precaution
You MUST make sure the front side-plate thumbscrew is fastened finger-tight.
Do not overtighten the thumbscrew; it can cause air leaks.
Major GC leaks or a column is missing or
broken
If the GC is off and configured for hydrogen, the
rear oven flap is open to vent out the hydrogen.
Proper lab venting, as described in the Site Prep
manual, is recommended. If there is a significant
leak, such as a missing column, the GC inlet, PCM,
and Aux are provided with flow limiting frits to
minimize any hydrogen accumulation within the
oven. When the GC is on, major leaks are detected
automatically.
Tabl e 1 Potential hydrogen accumulation mechanisms in GC/MSD (continued)
Mechanism Results
WARNING Once hydrogen has accumulated in a system, extreme caution must be used when
removing it. Incorrect startup of a system filled with hydrogen can cause an
explosion.
WARNING After a power failure, the mass spectrometer may start up and begin the pumpdown
process by itself. This does not guarantee that all hydrogen has been removed from
the system or that the explosion hazard has been removed.
WARNING Failure to secure your MSD as described above greatly increases the chance of
personal injury in the event of an explosion.

12 7890A GC Safety Manual
General laboratory precautions
•Avoid leaks in the carrier gas lines. Use leak-checking equipment to
periodically check for hydrogen leaks.
•Eliminate from your laboratory as many ignition sources as possible (open
flames, devices that can spark, sources of static electricity, etc.).
•Do not allow hydrogen from a high pressure cylinder to vent directly to
atmosphere (danger of self-ignition).
•Use a hydrogen generator instead of bottled hydrogen.
•Provide proper system ventillation as described in the Site Prep manual.
Operating precautions
•Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time you shut down the GC or
MSD.
•Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time you vent the MSD (do not
heat the capillary column without carrier gas flow).
•Turn off the hydrogen at its source every time isolation valves in an MSD
are closed (do not heat the capillary column without carrier gas flow).
•Turn off the hydrogen at its source if a power failure occurs.
•If a power failure occurs while the GC/MSD system is unattended, even if
the system has restarted by itself:
1Immediately turn off the hydrogen at its source.
2Turn off the GC.
3Turn off the MSD and allow it to cool for 1 hour.
4Eliminate all potential sources of ignition in the room.
5Open the vacuum manifold of the MSD to atmosphere.
6Wait at least 10 minutes to allow any hydrogen to dissipate.
7Start up the GC and MSD as normal.
When using hydrogen gas, check the system for leaks to prevent possible fire
and explosion hazards based on local Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
requirements. Always check for leaks after changing a tank or servicing the
gas lines. Always make sure the vent line is vented into a fume hood.

7890A GC Safety Manual 13
Measuring hydrogen gas flows
When measuring gas flows on a detector using hydrogen for the detector flame
or carrier gas, measure the hydrogen flow separately. Never allow an air
stream to enter when hydrogen is present in the flow meter.
WARNING Do not measure hydrogen together with air or oxygen. This can create explosive
mixtures that may be ignited by the automatic ignitor.
To a v oi d th is h az ar d :
Turn the automatic ignitor off before you begin.
Always measure gases separately.

14 7890A GC Safety Manual
Micro-Electron Capture Detector (µECD)
The µECD contains a cell plated with 63Ni, a radioactive isotope. The beta
particles released at the energy level in the detector have little penetrating
power—the surface layer of the skin or a few sheets of paper will stop most of
them—but they may be hazardous if the isotope is ingested or inhaled. For this
reason, handle the cell with care. Cap the detector inlet and outlet fittings
when the detector is not in use. Never introduce corrosive chemicals into the
detector. Vent detector exhaust outside the laboratory environment.
Refer to the safety documentation provided with the detector for important
details about safety, maintenance, and compliance with local government
regulation.
WARNING Materials that may react with the 63Ni source, either to form volatile
products or to cause physical degradation of the plated film, must be
avoided. These materials include oxidizing compounds, acids, wet
halogens, wet nitric acid, ammonium hydroxide, hydrogen sulfide, PCPs,
and carbon monoxide. This list is not exhaustive but indicates the kinds of
compounds that may cause damage to 63Ni detectors.

7890A GC Safety Manual 15
When handling µECDs:
•Never eat, drink, or smoke.
•Always wear safety glasses when working with or near open µECDs.
•Wear protective clothing such as laboratory jackets, safety glasses, and
gloves, and follow good laboratory practices. Wash hands thoroughly with a
mild nonabrasive cleaner after handling µECDs.
•Cap the inlet and outlet fittings when the µECD is not in use.
WARNING In the extremely unlikely event that the oven or the detector-heated zone
should go into thermal runaway (maximum, uncontrolled heating in
excess of 400 °C) and the detector remains exposed to this condition for
more than 12 hours, take the following steps:
1After turning off the main power and allowing the instrument to cool to
room temperature, cap the detector inlet and exhaust vent openings.
Wear disposable plastic gloves and observe normal laboratory safety
precautions.
2Contact your local Agilent Technologies sales office or distributor for ECD
disposal instructions
3Include a letter stating the condition of abuse.
It is unlikely, even in this very unusual situation, that radioactive material
will escape the cell. However, permanent damage to the 63Ni plating
within the cell is possible; therefore, the cell must be returned for
exchange.
WARNING Do not use solvents to clean the µECD.
WARNING You may not open the µECD cell unless authorized to do so by your local nuclear
regulatory agency. Do not disturb the four socket-head bolts. These hold the cell
halves together. Removing or disturbing them is a violation of the terms of the
General License and could create a safety hazard.

16 7890A GC Safety Manual
•Connect the µECD exhaust vent to a fume hood or vent it to the outside. See
the latest revision of 10 CFR Part 20 (including Appendix B), or the
applicable state regulation. For other countries, consult with the
appropriate agency for equivalent requirements.
Agilent Technologies recommends a vent line internal diameter of 6 mm
(1/4-inch) or greater. With a line of this diameter, the length is not critical.

7890A GC Safety Manual 17
Fuses and batteries
The GC requires fuses and batteries for proper operation. These must only be
accessed by Agilent trained service personnel.
Tabl e 2 AC board fuses
Fuse designation Line voltage Fuse rating and type
F1, F2 All 20 A, 250 Vac, IEC 127 type f (non-time delay),
ceramic body
F3, F4 All 8 A, 250 Vac, IEC type f (non-time delay),
glass body
Tabl e 3 Logic board battery
Battery designation Battery rating and type
BT1 3-volt lithium-poly carbon battery, .048A-HR,
Panasonic model BR 1225

18 7890A GC Safety Manual
Safety and Regulatory Certifications
The Agilent 7890A GC conforms to the following safety standards:
•Canadian Standards Association (CSA): C22.2 No. 1010.1
•CSA/Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory (NRTL): UL 61010
•International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): 61010–1
•EuroNorm (EN): 61010–1
The Agilent 7890A GC conforms to the following regulations on
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Radio Frequency Interference
(RFI):
•CISPR 11/EN 55011: Group 1, Class A
•IEC/EN 61326
•AUS/NZ
This ISM device complies with Canadian ICES-001. Cet appareil ISM est
conforme a la norme NMB—001 du Canada.
The Agilent 7890A GC is designed and manufactured under a quality system
registered to ISO 9001.
Instructions for Disposal of Waste Equipment by Users in the European Union.
This symbol on the product or its packaging indicates that this product must
not be disposed of with other waste. Instead, it is your responsibility to
dispose of your waste equipment by handing it over to a designated collection
point for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment. The
separate collection and recycling of your waste equipment at the time of
disposal will help conserve natural resources and ensure that it is recycled in
a manner that protects human health and the environment. For more
information about where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling,
please contact your local city recycling office or the dealer from whom you
originally purchased the product.

7890A GC Safety Manual 19
Information
The Agilent Technologies 7890A Gas Chromatograph meets the following IEC
(International Electro-technical Commission) classifications: Safety Class I,
Transient Overvoltage Category II, Pollution Degree 2.
This unit has been designed and tested in accordance with recognized safety
standards and is designed for use indoors in non-classified locations. If the
instrument is used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer, the
protection provided by the instrument may be impaired. Whenever the safety
protection of the Agilent 7890A Gas Chromatograph has been compromised,
disconnect the unit from all power sources and secure the unit against
unintended operation.
Refer servicing to qualified service personnel. Substituting parts or
performing any unauthorized modification to the instrument may result in a
safety hazard.
Symbols
Warnings in the manual or on the instrument must be observed during all
phases of operation, service, and repair of this instrument. Failure to comply
with these precautions violates safety standards of design and the intended
use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no liability for the
customer’s failure to comply with these requirements.
See accompanying instructions for more
information.
Indicates a hot surface.
Indicates hazardous voltages.
Indicates earth (ground) terminal.
Indicates explosion hazard.

20 7890A GC Safety Manual
Electromagnetic compatibility
This device complies with the requirements of CISPR 11. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
•This device may not cause harmful interference.
•This device must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try one or more of the following measures:
1Relocate the radio or antenna.
2Move the device away from the radio or television.
3Plug the device into a different electrical outlet, so that the device and the
radio or television are on separate electrical circuits.
4Make sure that all peripheral devices are also certified.
5Make sure that appropriate cables are used to connect the device to
peripheral equipment.
6Consult your equipment dealer, Agilent Technologies, or an experienced
technician for assistance.
7Changes or modifications not expressly approved by Agilent Technologies
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Indicates radioactivity hazard.
Indicates electrostatic discharge hazard.
Indicates a hazard. See the Agilent 7890A GC
user documentation for the item labeled.
Indicates that you must not discard this
electrical/electronic product in domestic
household waste