Millipore M Air T User manual

M Air T®
Compressed Gas and Air
Sampling Kit
User Guide

Notice
The information in this document is subject to change without notice
and should not be construed as a commitment by Millipore
Corporation. Millipore Corporation assumes no responsibility for any
errors that may appear in this document. This manual is believed to be
complete and accurate at the time of publication. In no event shall
Millipore Corporation be liable for incidental or consequential damages
in connection with or arising from the use of this manual.
Copyright 2002, Millipore Corporation. All rights reserved. This book or
parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form without the written
permission of the publishers. Printed in U.S.A.
Millipore and M Air T are registered trademarks of Millipore Corporation.
Tri-Clover is a registered trademark of Alfa Laval, Inc.
P36483, Rev. –, 10/02

Introduction
The new M Air T®Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit is designed
especially to monitor the microbiological quality of compressed gas
and air used in the pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries.
Connected to the M Air T Isolator Pump ATBPUMP01, the new
sampling kit allows accurate sampling and microbiological monitoring
of a compressed gas sample, by direct impaction onto the M Air T pre-
filled agar cassette.
The pre-sterilized M Air T agar cassettes used with the M Air T
Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit are easier to handle, especially
when wearing gloves, significantly reducing the risk of inadvertent
contamination. The M Air T Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit is
manufactured from stainless steel, with sanitary Tri-Clover®
connections, making it autoclavable.
The design of the M Air T Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit
allows one to sample compressed gas or air up to 5 bar (73 psi) of
pressure, without any pressure reducer.
Applications
The M Air T Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit, connected to the
M Air T Isolator Pump, is suited for a variety of applications, as fol-
lows.
Pharmaceutical
■Evaluation of the microbiological quality of compressed gas or air
used for blanketing, purging, sparging or stirring products
■Evaluation of the microbiological quality of confined areas such as
Blow Fill Seal (BFS) sterile showers
Food and Beverage
■Evaluation of the microbiological quality of compressed gas or air
used for blanketing, purging, cooling and freezing products

2www.millipore.com
Component Diagram
Item Description Function
A Pressure reducer Connected to the sampling port, to reduce
incoming pressure
B Clamp, 1.5 in. TC To connect pressure reducer to cone adapter
C Cone adapter To reduce charge loss and to expand impaction
onto the entire agar surface
D Clamp, 4 in. TC To connect cone adapter to impaction sieve
E Impaction sieve Captures microorganisms using 611 micro-
perforations
Precautions/Limitations
■Autoclave all parts at 121 °C for 20 minutes before any compressed gas or
air sampling.
■Use only with the M Air T Isolator Pump.
■Use only M Air T cassettes with this unit.
■Do not use for microbiological monitoring of compressed O2.
■Do not sample gas or air at pressures above the specified limit of
5 bar (73 psi).
A
B
C
D
E

M Air T Sampling Kit User Guide 3
Assembling the M Air T
Compressed Gas and Air Sampling Kit
1. With the 1.5-inch TC clamp, connect the valve to the cone adapter.
2. With the 4-inch TC clamp, connect the cone adapter to the
impaction sieve and then autoclave.

4www.millipore.com
Installing the M Air T Cassette
The M Air T cassette, in its gamma-irradiated double-sleeve packaging,
has been qualified and validated to monitor up to 1000 liters of com-
pressed gas or air.
1. Grasp the wings of the cassette and place it on the sampling head.
Lock the cassette into place.
2. Remove the cover and place it on a work surface with the inside
facing down.

M Air T Sampling Kit User Guide 5
3. Place the sieve, cone adapter and pressure reducer on the cassette
and lock it into position.
4. As described in detail in the M Air T Isolator Pump User Guide,
connect the assembly to the pump, using the components supplied
with the pump:
a. Install the assembly on the tripod.
b. Connect the assembly to the pump, using the silicone tubing.

6www.millipore.com
Installing the M Air T Cassette, continued
5. Connect the compressed gas sampling port to the inlet connection
of the pressure reducer.
6. Open the sampling valve and adjust the valve indicator to between
5 and 6 mm, to achieve an inlet gas flow rate between 140 and
180 liters/minute.
Note: If the sampling port does not allow this flow rate to be
achieved, a flow rate adjustment valve can be placed
between the sampling port and the pressure reducer.
CAUTION: During sampling, the inlet gas flow rate must exceed
the vacuum flow rate (136 liters/minute), so that the
excess air will be diverted through the evacuation
holes to the pressure reducer.
7. After sampling, close the sampling port. Loosen the sieve
connected to the cone adapter, remove it and replace the cassette
cover.

M Air T Sampling Kit User Guide 7
8. Remove the cassette by grasping the “wings” and lifting it off the
sampling head.
9. Label the cassette.
NOTE: Incubate the cassette upside down.
Specifications
Dimensions (M Air T Compressed Air/Gas Sampling Kit):
Total height: 310 mm (12.2 in.)
Total width: 170 mm × 130 mm
(6.7 in. × 5.11 in.)
Total weight: 3.5 kg
Maximum operating pressure: 5 bar (73 psi)
Materials of Construction
Pressure reducer, cone adapter,
sieve and clamps: 316 AISI stainless steel
Gaskets silicone

8www.millipore.com
Product Ordering Information
This section lists the catalogue numbers for the M Air T Compressed
Gas and Air Sampling Kit. See the Technical Assistance section for
information about contacting Millipore. You can also buy Millipore
products on-line at www.millipore.com/purecommerce.
Description Qty/Pk Catalogue No.
M Air T Compressed Gas and Air
Sampling Kit 1 ATBH GAS 01
The kit includes the following:
M Air T pressure reducer 1 ATBH PRE 01
M Air T cone adapter 1 ATBH C0N 01
M Air T sieve for cone adapter 1 ATBC SEV 01
Clamp, 1.5 in. TC 1 YY20 040 45
Clamp, 4 in. TC 1 FTPF 007 88
Silicone gasket, 1.5 in. TC 10 YY20 040 55
Silicone gasket, 4 in. TC 10 FTPF 007 89
Flow Rate Adjustment Valve (Optional)
Valve, 3/4 in. TC 1 YFS7ETC34
Female Plug, 3/4 in. TC 1 YFS714N34
Silicone seal, 3/4 in. TC 10 YFS7S0034
Clamp, 3/4 in. TC 1 YFS7TCC34
M Air T Isolator Pump and Accessories
M Air T isolator pump 1 ATBP UMP 01
M Air T isolator tripod 1 ATBF EET 01
M Air T isolator sampling head 1 ATBH EAD 01
M Air T isolator printer 1 ATBP RNT 01
M Air T isolator tubing 1 ATBT UBE 01
M Air T Agar Cassettes
Pre-filled gamma-sterilized in double sleeves (6 bags with 4 or 10 cassettes each)
Medium Application Qty/Pk Catalogue No.
Tryptic Soy Total count 60 ATSM TTD 60
Sab Dex Yeast and mold 60 ATSM SDD 60
TSA w/ beta lactamase Areas containing antibiotics 60 ATSM PND 60
Tryptic Soy Isolator monitoring 24 ATSM TTB 24
TSA w/pyruvate Isolator monitoring 24 ATSM TPB 24
(VHP-sanitized)

M Air T Sampling Kit User Guide 9
Technical Assistance
For more information, contact the Millipore office nearest you. In the
U.S., call 1-800-MILLIPORE (1-800-645-5476). Outside the U.S., see
your Millipore catalogue for the phone number of the office nearest
you or go to our web site at www.millipore.com/offices for up-to-date
worldwide contact information. You can also visit the tech service page
on our web site at http://www.millipore.com/techservice.
Standard Warranty
Millipore Corporation (“Millipore”) warrants its products will meet
their applicable published specifications when used in accordance with
their applicable instructions for a period of one year from shipment of
the products. MILLIPORE MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY,
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
The warranty provided herein and the data, specifications and
descriptions of Millipore products appearing in Millipore’s published
catalogues and product literature may not be altered except by express
written agreement signed by an officer of Millipore. Representations,
oral or written, which are inconsistent with this warranty or such
publications are not authorized and if given, should not be relied
upon.
In the event of a breach of the foregoing warranty, Millipore’s sole
obligation shall be to repair or replace, at its option, the applicable
product or part thereof, provided the customer notifies Millipore
promptly of any such breach. If after exercising reasonable efforts,
Millipore is unable to repair or replace the product or part, then
Millipore shall refund to the customer all monies paid for such
applicable product or part. MILLIPORE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR
CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR ANY OTHER
INDIRECT DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ECONOMIC LOSS OR
PROPERTY DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY ANY CUSTOMER FROM THE
USE OF ITS PRODUCTS.

P36483, Rev. –, 10/02