Agilent Technologies VGA 77 User manual

Agilent Vapor
Generation
Accessory VGA 77
and VGA 77P
User’s Guide

2 Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc.
1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000,
2003, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016
No part of this manual may be
reproduced in any form or by any
means (including electronic storage
and retrieval or translation into a
foreign language) without prior
agreement and written consent from
Agilent Technologies, Inc. as governed
by United States and international
copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
8510104700
Edition
Thirteenth edition, December 2016
Agilent Technologies Australia (M) Pty
Ltd
679 Springvale Rd
Mulgrave, Victoria 3170, Australia
www.agilent.com
Warranty
The material contained in this
document is provided “as is,” and is
subject to being changed, without
notice, in future editions. Further, to
the maximum 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 particular purpose.
Agilent shall not be liable for errors
or for incidental or consequential
damages in connection with the
furnishing, use, or performance of
this document or of any information
contained herein. Should Agilent and
the user have a separate written
agreement with warranty terms
covering the material in this
document that conflict with these
terms, the warranty terms in the
separate agreement shall control.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and/or software
described in this document are
furnished under a license and may be
used or copied only in accordance
with the terms of such license.
Restricted Rights Legend
If software is for use in the
performance of a U.S. Government
prime contract or subcontract,
Software is delivered and licensed as
“Commercial computer software” as
defined in DFAR 252.227-7014 (June
1995), or as a “commercial item” as
defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as
“Restricted computer software” as
defined in FAR 52.227-19 (June 1987)
or any equivalent agency regulation or
contract clause. Use, duplication or
disclosure of Software is subject to
Agilent Technologies’ standard
commercial license terms, and non-
DOD Departments and Agencies of the
U.S. Government will receive no
greater than Restricted Rights as
defined in FAR 52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June
1987). U.S. Government users will
receive no greater than Limited Rights
as defined in FAR 52.227-14 (June
1987) or DFAR 252.227-7015 (b)(2)
(November 1995), as applicable in any
technical data.
Safety Notices
A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard.
It calls attention to an operating
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.
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or the
like that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in personal
injury or death. Do not proceed
beyond a WARNING notice until the
indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
WARNING
CAUTION

Contents
Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide 3
Contents
1. Safety Practices and Hazards 7
General 7
Verifying Safe State 7
Hazard Warnings 8
Electrical Hazards 8
Chemical Hazards 9
Warning Messages 9
Information Symbols 10
Color Coding 11
Electromagnetic Compatibility 11
EN55011/CISPR11 11
ICES/NMB-001 12
2. Introduction 13
About the VGA 77 and VGA 77P 13
About this Manual 14
Specifications 14
Environmental 14
Power 15
Gas Supplies 15
Weights and Dimensions 16
3. Getting Started 17
Unpacking 17

Contents
4 Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide
Installation 18
Installation Checklist 19
Gas Supply Requirements 20
Power Supply Requirements 22
Installing the Pump Unit 24
Installing a Reagent Module 24
Installing the Drain Tubing 25
Installing the VGA 77 Pump Tubing 27
Installing the Burner Clamp 29
Installation of Zeeman Adapter for 240Z/280Z AA 33
Installing the Cell 36
Connecting the Gas/liquid Separator Outlet 38
Connecting a Mercury Trap (for AA only) 41
Connection to the Autosampler 42
4. Operation 43
Setup 44
General Setup 44
Pump Adjustment 44
AA Setup 47
ICP Setup 49
Operation 51
Automatic Operation 52
Shutting Down 53
Changing Modules 54
5. Analytical Notes 55
Background 56

Contents
Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide 5
Factors Affecting the Formation of Hydrides 57
Acid Concentration 57
Oxidation State 57
Interferences 58
Contamination 59
Memory Effects 59
Background Absorption (AA only) 59
Laboratory Procedures 60
General 60
Standards 61
Reductant—Sodium Borohydride 61
Pump Tubing 61
Sources (AA only) 62
Basic Methods 62
Antimony 62
Arsenic 63
Bismuth 64
Mercury 64
Selenium 66
Tellurium 67
Tin 68
Additional Notes 69
References 69
Additional References 69
6. Maintenance and Spare Parts 71
Cleaning Procedures 71
General 71
Absorption Cell 72

Contents
6 Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide
Gas/Liquid Separator 73
Tubing 75
Replacement Procedures 76
Pump Tubes 76
Reaction Coil 76
Uptake Capillary Tubes 77
Fuses 77
Spare Parts 79
7. Appendix – AA Performance Log 81

Safety Practices and Hazards
Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide 7
1. Safety Practices and Hazards
General 7
Verifying Safe State 7
Hazard Warnings 8
Color Coding 11
Electromagnetic Compatibility 11
General
Operation of the VGA 77 with an Atomic Absorption spectrometer
(AA) or VGA 77P with an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical
Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) involves the use of compressed
gases and hazardous materials, including corrosive fluids. Unskilled,
improper, or careless use of equipment can create explosion hazards,
fire hazards or other hazards which can cause death, serious injury
to personnel, or severe damage to equipment and property.
Appropriate safety practices have been included in this operation
manual and your spectrometer operation manual, to help users
operate the equipment safely. Read all safety practices thoroughly
before attempting to operate your system.
If the equipment is used in a manner not specified by the
manufacturer, the protection provided by the equipment may be
impaired.
Do not position the equipment so that it is difficult to operate the
disconnecting device.
Verifying Safe State
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all
phases of operation, maintenance and service of this instrument.

Safety Practices and Hazards
8 Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide
To ensure continued safety of the instrument after maintenance or
service procedures verify the instrument is returned to a safe state
for the user. This includes running performance checks to verify the
instruments safety systems are functioning correctly. Check the
general condition of the instrument during operation for wear or
signs of corrosion that are likely to inhibit function or safety.
Failure to comply with these precautions or with specific warnings
elsewhere in this manual violates safety standards of design,
manufacture, and intended use of the instrument. Agilent
Technologies assumes no liability for the customer’s failure to
comply with these requirements.
Hazard Warnings
In addition to the hazard warnings contained in your spectrometer
operation manual, specific hazard warnings have been included in
this operation manual. These warnings state the hazard, describe
how to avoid it and specify the possible consequences of not
following the instructions. Read all warnings carefully and observe
them at all times.
Electrical Hazards
The VGA 77 contains electrical circuits, devices and components
operating at dangerous voltages. Contact with these circuits, devices
and components can cause death, serious injury or painful electric
shock. Covers that are retained by screws on the VGA 77 may be
opened only by Agilent field service engineers.
Use of the wrong supply voltage, connection of the accessory to an
incorrectly wired supply outlet, or lack of proper electrical grounding
can create a fire or shock hazard that can cause death, serious injury,
or serious damage to equipment.
Always use a 3-wire outlet with a ground connection that is
adequately rated for the load.
The installation must comply with local, state and national safety
regulations.

Safety Practices and Hazards
Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide 9
Before connecting the VGA 77, make sure the voltage selector is
correctly set for the mains supply to which you are connecting
the accessory (see Figure 2 on Page 23).
A blown fuse should be replaced with one of the same size and rating
stated in the text near the fuse holder.
Chemical Hazards
Vapor generation methods of analysis involve the generation of toxic
hydrides and use materials which are toxic, highly corrosive or
otherwise hazardous. Careless, improper, or unskilled use of such
materials can cause serious personal injury.
Always ensure that laboratory safety practices governing the use,
handling and disposal of such materials are strictly observed. These
safety practices should include the wearing of appropriate safety
clothing.
In the VGA 77 system, highly concentrated acids are pumped under
pressure. If a leak occurs, acid could be sprayed from the system,
causing serious personal injury. Always wear approved safety glasses
warranted to protect the eyes.
Never pump concentrated sulfuric acid through the VGA 77 system.
Warning Messages
The following symbol may be used on warning labels attached to the
Agilent VGA 77. When you see this symbol, refer to the relevant
operation or service manual for the correct procedure referred to by
that warning label.

Safety Practices and Hazards
10 Agilent Vapor Generation Accessory VGA 77 and VGA 77P User’s Guide
A triangular symbol indicates a warning. The meanings of the
symbols that may appear alongside warnings in the documentation
or on the instrument itself are as follows:
Corrosive liquid
Electrical shock Explosion hazard
Eye hazard Fire hazard
Heavy weight
(danger to feet)
Heavy weight
(danger to hands)
Hot surface
Moving parts
Noxious gas
Sharp object
Information Symbols
A ‘Note’ is used to give advice or information.
I Mains power on
0 Mains power off
Fuse
Single phase alternating current
Caution, disconnect all supplies, risk of electric shock