Mse Soniprep 150 User manual

INSTRUCTIONMANUALFORTHESONIPREP150ULTRASONICDISINTEGRATORREADBEFOREUSE!

Models:-MSS150.CX3.1MSS150.CX3.571100-1129-060206

MSE(UK)LTD

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MSE(UK)Ltdisrequiredunderthe1974HealthandSafetyatWorkActandotherUKlegislationasdesigners,manufacturers,suppliersandimportersofarticlesforuseatworktoensurethat,asfarasisreasonablypracticable,articleswhichwedesign,produce,supplyorimportaresafeandwithoutrisktohealth.Wearerequiredtoprovideinformationonthesafetyandhandlingprecautionstobeobservedwheninstalling,operating,maintainingandservicingourproducts.Suchadviceiscontainedinthismanual.Wearealsoobligedtoupdatethisinformationshouldcircumstanceschangeandtooperateasystemtothisend.Weshouldalsoliketopointout,howeverthatyouasusershaveanimportantresponsibilityintheprovisionandmaintenanceofsafeworkingpracticesandconditions.Accordingly,wedrawthefollowingmatterstoyourattention:1.Thisapparatusshouldonlybeusedasintendedandwithinitsdesignparametersbysuitablyqualifiedandtrainedpersonnelwhohavereadandunderstoodtherelevantsectionsofthismanual.2.Thismanualshouldbereadilyavailabletosuchpersonnelatalltimes.3.Inadditiontothatwhichiswritteninthemanual,normalcommon-sensesafetyprecautionsmustbetakenatalltimestoavoidthepossibilityofaccidents.Particularcareisrequiredwhenworkingwithapparatusathightemperatureorpressure.4.Installation,maintenance,repairsandservicingshouldonlybecarriedoutbyanMSE(UK)Ltdapprovedengineer,andconnectiontoelectricalsuppliesshouldonlybecarriedoutbysuitablytrainedpersonnel.TECHNICALSUPPORT,WARRANTYSERVICEANDMAINTENANCEUKcustomers;ifyouareinanydoubtwhatsoeverregardingthecorrectuseofthisapparatus,orifyourequireanytechnicaldataorassistance,pleasecontacttheMSE(UK)LtdTechnicalSupportDepartmentat:

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WorsleyBridgeRoadTelephone+44(0)8706094097LowerSydenhamFax+44(0)2086508408LondonE-mail:sales@mseuk.co.ukSE265AZWebPage:www.mseuk.co.ukOVERSEASCUSTOMERS:ShouldcontacttheirlocalMSE(UK)Ltddistributor.ELECTRICITYSUPPLIES:VoltageandfrequencyMSE(UK)Ltdelectricalapparatusisofferedandlabelledforone,orforachoiceoftwoormorevoltagerangesand,wherenecessary,differentfrequenciesofmainssupply.MSE(UK)Ltddoesnotacceptanyresponsibilityfortheoperationofanysuchapparatusshoulditbeconnectedtoelectricitysupplieswhicharenormallyoutside,orvaryoutside,thestatedvoltageandfrequencyvaluesforwhichitisdesigned,norforanyconsequentialloss,damageorinjury,howsoevercaused.

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THISMACHINEHASBEENFITTEDWITHANEWTHUMBTURNLOCK.

THEMACHINEWILLOPERATEONLYWHENTHEDOORISLOCKEDANDTHELATCHISFULLYENGAGEDTOENSURETHEDOORISFULLYLATCHED,TURNTHETHUMBWHEELFULLYCLOCKWISETILLTHEFLATSONTHELOCKARESITTINGHORIZONTALLYTHISHASBEENINTRODUCEDWITHTHEOPERATORINMIND.ASSOONASTHEDOORISOPENEDTHEGENERATORISTURNEDOFFWHICHINTURNSTOPSANYACCIDENTALCONTACTWITHTHEOPERATORANDTHEENERGISEDPROBE.THISALSOSTOPSANYSOUNDWAVESFROMLEAVINGTHESOUNDPROOFEDCHAMBERWHENTHEDOORISOPENED.

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ThankyouforbuyingaMSE(UK)LtdSoniprep150.PleasereadthisoperatingmanualbeforeusingyourSoniprep;itwillprovideyouandyourcolleagueswithusefulinformationonallaspectsoftheequipment.Asourcustomer,weshouldliketoensurethatyouaretotallysatisfiedatalltimes.Donothesitatetocontactourteam.Yourviewsareveryimportanttous

MSE(UK)LTDPRODUCTWARRANTYTermsandConditions

WehopethatyoudonothavetheneedtousetheextensivewarrantycoverthatMSE(UK)Ltdextendstoyou.Howevershouldyouhaveaproblem,ourpromptresponseisgreatlyhelpedifyouhavefilledinandpostedthepre-paidWarrantyRegistrationCardsuppliedwithyournewequipment.MSE(UK)Ltdgivesaone-yearwarrantyfromthedateofdelivery.Duringthisperiod,componentpartsproventobedefectiveinmaterialsorworkmanshipwillberepairedorreplacedatourexpense.Installation,commissioningandcalibrationarenotcoveredbythiswarrantyagreement.TheMSE(UK)Ltdapprovedserviceagentmustbecontactedforwarrantydeterminationanddirectionpriortoanyworkbeingcarriedout.Thesewarrantiesareonlyapplicabletonewproducts,andnotsecondhandnorrefurbishedproductsevenifrepairedbyMSE(UK)Ltd.Anysuchproductsarecoveredbyseparatewarrantytermsandconditionswhichwillbemadeavailableonrequest.ReplacementorrepairofcomponentpartsorequipmentunderthiswarrantyshallnotextendthewarrantytoeithertheequipmentorthecomponentpartbeyondtheoriginaloneyearwarrantyperiodunlessagreedinwritingbyMSE(UK)Ltd.Theabovewarrantiesareextendedtotheoriginalpurchaseruponfullinvoicepayment.Apurchasereceiptorotherproofofpurchasemayberequiredbeforewarrantyservicewillbeperformed.Thesewarrantiesonlycoverfailuresduetodefectiveworkmanshipwhichoccurduringthenormaloperationoftheproductbytheoriginalpurchaser,andnotfailureswhichresultfromaccident,misuse,abuse,neglect,mishandling,misapplication,alteration,faultyinstallation,electricalpowerfluctuations,dust,orotherenvironmentalextremes,modificationorserviceotherthanbyanapprovedserviceagentorfollowingthewrittenauthorityofthemanufacturer,ordamagethatisattributabletoactsofGod.Expendableitemssuchasmotorbrushes,doorseals,lidseals,‘O’ringsorlampsareexcluded.MSE(UK)Ltd,oritsapprovedserviceagent,reservestherighttorepairdefectiveequipmentonthepremisesofthecustomer,orataservicestation,atthesolediscretionofMSE(UK)Ltdortheirapprovedagent.Intheeventofreturntoanapprovedservicecentrethecustomerisresponsibleforthesafepackagingoftheinstrumentandnotificationtotheservicecentre.NeitherMSE(UK)Ltdnoritsagentsareresponsibleforanydamageoccurringduringshipment.SpecificationandMaterialChanges:MSE(UK)Ltdreservestherighttosupplyourlatestandimprovedmodelsattimeofshipment.Taxes:ThepricesquoteddonotincludeanytaxesimposedbytheStateorCountryinwhichthepurchasewasmade.Installation:Installationofallequipmentshallbeattheexpenseofthepurchaserunlessstatedotherwise.Accesstothesite,andtheprovisionofrequiredutilitiese.g.power,wateranddrainagetosuitableconnections,willbetheresponsibilityofthepurchaser,andatthepurchaser'sexpense.Limitationofliability:Innoevent,whetherasaresultofbreachofcontractorwarranty,shallMSE(UK)Ltdbeliableforanyconsequentialorincidentaldamagesincluding,butnotlimitedto,lossofprofitorrevenues,lossofuseoftheequipmentoranyassociatedequipment,downtimecosts,costsofsubstituteequipment,costsoflabour,costsduetodelaysorclaimsofpurchaser'sowncustomersforsuchdamages.ThepurchaseragreestoindemnifyMSE(UK)Ltdandtoholdthemharmlessfromanyandallliability,claims,demands,actions,suits,expensesorcosts,includingattorney'sfeesrelatingtosuchconsequentialorincidentaldamages.Allexpressedandimpliedwarranties,includingthewarrantiesofmerchantablequalityandfitnessforaparticularpurposearelimitedtotheapplicationperiodofoneyear.Validity:Legalrightsvaryfromcountrytocountryandstateswithincountries,sosomeoralloftheexclusionsorlimitationslistedabovemaynotapply,butifanypartoftheseconditionsshallbefoundtobeunenforceableitshallnotaffectthevalidityorenforceabilityoftheremainderoftheconditions.

ELECTRICITYSUPPLY

Beforeconnectingthisapparatustotheelectricitysupply,checktheinformationgivenontheapparatusratingplateandensurethat:A)YoursupplyissinglephaseAC(alternatingcurrent)ofthestatedfrequencywiththeneutralnominallyatearthpotential.B)Yoursupplyvoltageiswithinthestatedrange.C)Thecurrentratingiswithinthecapacityofyoursupplyoutlet.D)Yourplugorelectricitysupplycircuitisfittedwithasuitablefuse.FuseRating220v-240v110v-120v5ampSeenote100V-120VWARNING!ThisapparatusmustbeearthedThewiresinthemainsleadarecolouredinaccordancewiththefollowingcode:220v-240v110v-120vLiveBrownBlackNeutralBlueWhiteEarthGreen&YellowGreenConnectthewirestoanon-reversible3pinplugasfollows:GreenandYelloworGreenwiretoterminalmarkedE(Earth),G(GroundcolouredGreenandYelloworGreen)ormarkedwiththeEarthsymbol.BlueorWhitetoterminalmarkedN(Neutral)orcommonorcolouredBlue.BrownorBlacktoterminalmarkedL(Live4)orPhaseorcolouredBrown.NOTE:100v-120vinstallationstocomplywithNationalandStateWiringCodesIMPORTANT:Consultanelectricianifindoubtorifyoursupplysystemhasanyofthefollowing:Noearth.Acolourcodedifferentfromabove.Reversibleplugs.Supplyandreturnleadsthatarebothaboveearthpotential.NOTE:Donottouchplugpinswithintwosecondsofplugremovalfromsocket.

CONTENTS8CONTENTS

1.INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................91.1GeneralDescription................................................................................91.2ControlPanelDescription....................................................................112.INSTALLATION...................................................................................................132.1PowerSupplyandFuses......................................................................133.PROBES..............................................................................................................143.1DescriptionandFunction.....................................................................143.2ExponentialMicroprobe.......................................................................143.3FittingaprobetotheTransducer........................................................143.4Positionoftheprobeintheliquidfortreatment................................143.5ProbeMaintenance...............................................................................153.6TestingProbePerformance.................................................................164.PROCESSINGSAMPLES...................................................................................174.1VesselsforSamples.............................................................................174.2BasicProcessing..................................................................................174.3BatchTreatmentVessel........................................................................184.4MeterFlowVessel.................................................................................184.5ContinuousFlowVessel.......................................................................185.OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONS............................................................................195.1ManualControl......................................................................................195.2TimerControl.........................................................................................195.3OptionalProcessTimerUnit(230Vunitsonly)..................................195.4OperatingInstructions..........................................................................196.CLEANING...........................................................................................................217.FAULTFINDING..................................................................................................217.1General...................................................................................................217.2Faultconditionscouldbe:-..................................................................217.3LooseProbe...........................................................................................217.4FatiguedProbeOrCouplingStud........................................................218.SPECIFICATIONS...............................................................................................228.1SpecificationForSoniprep...................................................................228.2SpecificationForProcessTimer.........................................................229.OPTIONALACCESSORIESFORTHESONIPREP150...................................2310.PRODUCTDISPOSAL-ISO14001COMPLIANCE..........................................23

INTRODUCTION91.INTRODUCTIONTheSoniprep150UltrasonicDisintegratorisaself-containedunitdesignedforconvenienttabletopoperation.Itincorporatesanacousticcabinet,whichreducesexternallyaudiblenoiseandultrasoundtoasafelevel.Atransparentdoorallowsobservationofthesampleduringsonication.Theapparatusisfactoryadjustedtotheuser'selectricalsupplyvoltageandfrequency.1.1GeneralDescriptionThegeneratorisasolid-statetransistoramplifier,whichprovideselectricalenergy,atanoutputfrequencyof23KHz,toahighefficiencypiezo-electrictransducer,whichconvertstheelectricalenergytomechanicalenergy.Thetransducer,mountedinthetopofthedisintegratorchamber,transmitsultrasoundbyhighfrequencyvibrationsviaatitaniumalloyprobe.Thereisachoiceofthreeprobes,whichscrewintothetransducerheadandtransmitenergyofapproximateamplitudeforanyspecificapplication.Eachprobeisdesignedtooperateatanominalfrequencyof23KHzconcentratingtheresultantultrasonicenergy,asrequired.Table1ProbeDetails

DescriptionTipDiameter

TransformationRatio

LargeProbeAssy.(solid)19mm(3/4’)3.8:1SmallProbeAssy.(solid)9.5mm(3/8’)5.5:1ExponentialMicroprobe3mm(1/8’)7:1

Thedisintegratorisdesignedtocopewithdifferentrequirementsandwillensurethatthereisthemaximumpossibleacousticenergyatthetipfortheprobe.Oncetheoutputlevelhasbeenselecteditiscontinuouslymaintainedbytheautomaticfeedbackfromthetransducer.Ameter,calibratedinmicrons,allowstheamplitudetobemonitoredcontinuously.Anadjustabletableandaretortclamparemountedonarodwithinthechamber.Thespecimentobetreatediscontainedinasuitabletubeclampedinpositionorinavesselplacedontheadjustabletable.

INTRODUCTION10

INTRODUCTION111.2ControlPanelDescriptionThecontrolpanelissituatedontherighthandsideoftheunit.Abriefdescriptionoftheirindividualfunctionsfollows:AmplitudeMeter-Themeteriscalibratedinmicronsandmonitorstheprobeamplitude,thatis,theactualmovementpeak-to-peakthatistakingplaceatthetransducer/probeinterface.Multiplyingthemeterindicationbythetransformationratiooftheparticularprobeinuse(SeeTable1)allowsactualmovementoftheprobetiptobedetermined.PowerControl-Clockwiserotationofthepowercontrolincreasestheamplitudeleveldisplayedontheamplitudemeter.Thiscontrolpermitssteplessselectionofpoweroutputtothetransducer,providinganaccurateandreproducibleamplitudesettingfortheparticularprobeinuse.Timer-Thisisa15minutetimingunitwithswitchingcontactsandaresettingorcancellationfacility.Itoperatesindependentlyofthestartswitchaftertheoutputlevelhasbeendetermined,thetimerequiredisselected.Theoperatinglampwillbeilluminated,ultrasonicationwillcommenceandthetimerwillstartrun-downtozero.Whenthetimeselectedhasruntheunitwillswitchoffautomaticallyandtheoperatinglampwillgooff.OverrideSwitch-Whenpressed‘ON’,allowstheunittooperatecontinuouslyregardlessofthetimeset.OperatingLamp-Whenilluminated,indicatesthatthepoweristhroughtothetransducer.

INTRODUCTION12

ControlPanel

INSTALLATION132.INSTALLATION2.1PowerSupplyandFusesWhentheequipmentisfirstreceived,makesurethevoltageselectorswitchiscorrectlypositionedtosuityourpowersupply.Thisswitchislocatedattherearoftheunit,nexttotheprocesstimerconnection.Table2-VoltageSelectorSwitchPositions

VoltagePositionIndication220/240Downward240120Upward120

Twoanti-surgefusesarefactoryfittedintheholderslocatedbeneaththemainsinletconnectionsocket.LocationoftheInstrumentandElectricalConnectionsPlacetheSoniprep150onasuitabletableorbenchandensurethatattherearoftheinstrumentisatleast50mm(2’)awayfromthewalltoallowadequateaircirculation.See‘ELECTRICITYSUPPLYSHEET’(frontofmanual)forplug/mainscabledetails.

PROCESSINGSAMPLES143.PROBES3.1DescriptionandFunctionTheprobeisaresonantelementusedforthetransmissionofvibratingmechanicalenergyfromthetransducertothesample.Theprimepurposeoftheprobeistoincreasethetransduceramplitudetoausablelevelor,toselecttheacousticpowertransfer.Ideally,materialusedforsuchprobesshouldhavegoodacousticproperties,highfatiguestrength,lowacousticlossanddensity.Itisessentialthatitshouldalsobecorrosionanderosionresistantandrelativelyinerttothematerialsbeingsonicated.Thematerialthatpossessesallthesequalitiesistitaniumalloyanditisfromthismaterialthatprobesavailableforusewiththedisintegrator,aremanufactured.Note:ProbesarespeciallydesignedtosuittheSoniprep150modelsandaretunedto23KHz.3.2ExponentialMicroprobeThisprobehasbeenspecificallydesignedforthetreatmentofsmallquantitiesofsample,upto5ml.Itshould,preferably,beusedwiththe20mltubeandsealingcapbutanyothersuitablysizedtubemaybeemployed.3.3FittingaprobetotheTransducerCleanthematingsurfacesoftheprobeandtransducerwithasoftcloth.Beforefittingtheprobe,screwthecouplingstudintothetransducerapproximately10mmleavingapproximately10mmprotruding.Screwtheprobeontothestudinthetransducerhead,byhand.Thentightenfirmlyusingashortscrewdriver'sshaftlocatedinthethroughholeintheprobe.Itisimportantthattheprobeisclampedsecurelytothetransducer,asfailuretodosowillresultinalargepowerlossandanirritatinghigh-pitchednoise.NOTE:Thecouplingstudisarelativelyloosefitinboththetransducerandtheprobetoensurethatthecontactsurfacesareallowedtomateperfectly.Anextremelysmallsmearofsiliconegreaseontheprobeheadwillfacilitatesurfacemating.3.4PositionoftheprobeintheliquidfortreatmentWhenmaximumpowerisnecessaryforadifficultapplication,theprobetipshouldbeimmersedintothesolutiontoanoptimumdepth.Asaguide,for50mlsampledownto10mlsample,thebestpositionfortheprobetipis1cmbelowthesurfaceofthesample.Ifthesampleislessthan10ml,thebestpositionfortheprobetipshouldbefoundbytrialanderror.Excessivedepthandalsotheviscosityofthesolutionwillcausethepowertobedamped,whichwillbeevidentbyalowerindicationontheamplitudemeter.Conversely,iftheprobetipisinsufficientlybelowthesurface,therewillbeatendencytogeneratefoaminthesolutionortocausescatteringofdropletsoutofthevessel.Thisisespeciallysowhenusinghighamplification.Ifthesolutionfoams,therewillbeadistinctchangeinsound,i.e.virtuallyunloadedandlittleenergyisbeingtransferredtothesolution.

PROCESSINGSAMPLES15Sometimes,whenthesolutionisthoroughlyaerated,theusualprocessnoisefromthebeakerortesttubewillstop,i.e.nobuzzorvibrationwillbeheard.Again,thisisbecausethereislittletransferofenergy.Whentheseconditionsoccur,turnthepoweroffforafewsecondsandsettheprobedeeper.Graduallyincreasethepowerandthesolutionwillde-gas.Thelowerthepowersetting,thesmallerwillbethequantitythatmaybeprocessedwithoutfoamingthesolution.Donotallowtheprobetocometoocloseto,ormakecontactwith,thesidesorbottomofglasscontainersaspowderedglassmaybeformedinthesolution,orbreakagemayoccur.Plastictubesaremoreresistanttofailureduringsonication,buttheinsulationpropertiesofplasticmaymakeitdifficulttokeepthesamplecool.CAUTIONItmustbeborneinmindthatsonicationcanweakenglasstubes.Itistherefore,advisablethatglasstubesusedinsonicationarenotsubsequentlycentrifugedathighspeedasfailureofthetubemayresult.3.5ProbeMaintenanceInusetheprobewillerodebytheactionofcavitationintheliquid.Thisdissolutionofthemetalfromthetipoftheprobe,whichoccurs,withanymetalduringuseathighsoundintensitiesis,however,reducedtoaminimumbytheuseoftitanium.Theerosionshowsitselfinconcentricringsontheradiatingface.Anerodedsurfacetransfersenergylessefficientlyintotheliquidthanasmoothonebecauseoftheformationofazoneofcavitationadjacenttothesurface.Energynottransferredintotheliquidmediumwilltendtoheattheendoftheprobe.Furthermore,erosioncontinuesatanacceleratedrateontheprobetipsurface,whichisalreadypitted,thusreducingtheusefullifeoftheprobe.Forthesereasonsthetipoftheprobeshouldbepolishedsmoothbymeansofaveryfineemeryclothonaflatsurface,butnotethefollowingtwocautions.CAUTION:a)ProbesWEAROUT,althoughprobesmaybepolished/reground,thelengthoftheprobemustnotbeshortenedbymorethan2mm.PROBESSHOULDBEREPLACEDANNUALLYORASREQUIRED.b)Thetransducer/probematingsurfacesmustnotbecleanedwithanabrasivecleaner.Shouldtheendrequirepolishing,ONLYALIQUIDNONABRASIVEPOLISHshouldbeused.

PROCESSINGSAMPLES163.6TestingProbePerformanceThefollowingtestshouldbecarriedoutsothatusersmaymonitortheperformanceofeachprobe.Measurethetemperatureriseobtainedatmaximumpowerafter5minuteswiththefollowingvolumesofchilledwater(i.e.below10°C).ProbeVolumeofChilledWaterExponential15ml9.5mm50ml19mm100mlAtemperatureriseofapproximately35°Cshouldbeobtained.Iftheriseisnotobtainable,theprobeorthetransducerisatfault.Topinpointthepartofthesystem,whichisfaulty,repeatthetestwithanUNUSEDprobe.Ifyoustilldonotobtainatemperatureriseofapproximately35°C,thencontacttheservicecentreattheaddressinsidethefrontcover.Theservicecentrewillgiveyoumoreadvice.

PROCESSINGSAMPLES174.PROCESSINGSAMPLES4.1VesselsforSamplesNOTE:MinimumVolume-Volumesoflessthan1mlmaybetreatedwiththeexponentialmicroprobe.Thesampleshouldbeheldinamicrotube.MaximumVolume-Amaximumof100mlmaybetreatedatanyonetime.However,largervolumesmaybeprocessedbyusingthetreatmentvessels.Itispreferabletouseanarrowvesselratherthanawideone.Twicethevolumeinanarrowvesseltakesashortertimetoprocessthanthesamevolumeinawidervessel.Twicethevolumeorconcentrationtakestwiceaslongtoprocess.Materialsthatareparticularlyresistanttoultrasonicenergy,however,shouldbeprocessedinthesmallestareapracticable.Sincetheenergyradiatesfromtheprobetipintheshapeofacone,themoreconfinedthesampleunderthetipthebettertheresults.Anarrow,relativelyshorttesttubeisalsocalledforwhenprocessingsmallquantities,sayoftheorderof4ml.Theprobetipshoulddisplaceasmuchliquidaspossibletoforcealongliquidheightor‘head’abovethevibratingtip.Thispreventsfoamingorwhippingthesolutionoutofthetesttube.Awidebeakerisnotnormallysuitable.Thereisconsiderableevidencethattheshapeofthecontainerhasgreatinfluenceontherateofreleaseofsolubleproteinortheefficiencyofthecellularbreakage.Thisisprobablymorethefunctionofmixingthananythingelse,sincetheindividualcomponentsarenotdirectlyexposedtotheactionoftheprobetipformorethanasecondortwo.Ifthevolumeisverylarge,thenindividualcellsarenotintheareaofcavitationactivityforasufficientperiodoftime.Theprobetipshouldbebelowthesurfaceoftheliquidbyapproximately13mm(1/2’)andshouldnotbetoofarfromthebottomofthevessell(againapproximately13mm).Ifthetipisnotsatisfactorilyimmersed,aconsiderablequantityofairmaybetrappedinthesolutionthusdissipatingthepowerdeliveredandnotallowingittobetransmittedtothesolution.AsthereissufficientforcegeneratedbytheSoniprep150tofractureorshatterglass,theprobetipmustnotbeallowedtocomeincontactwith,orcomecloseto,thebottomofthevessel.4.2BasicProcessingTesttubesof20mland100mlnominalcapacityareavailableforcertainapplications.Inadditiontothese,cooledtreatmentvesselsareavailableforusewhenitisimportantthatthemediabeingtreatedshouldbesubjectedtominimaltemperaturerise.Arangeofrubbersealingcapsareavailableforalltubesandcooledtreatmentvessels.Theprobeisinsertedthroughthesealingcapwhichfitsoverthemouthofthevessel,ortube,andprovidesanairtightseal.Foreaseofmanipulationandtoeffectthebestpossibleseal,theedgeoftheholeinthesealingcapshouldbelightlysmearedwithsiliconegrease.Whenusingsealingcaps,ensurethetubeissecurelyclampedtopreventdownwardmovementofthetubeandconsequentdisengagementfromtheprobe.

PROCESSINGSAMPLES18Whenfittingsealingcaps,theairpressurewhichmayhavebuiltupcanbereleasedbyliftingtheedgeofthecapslightly.Thecapsaremanufacturedfromamaterialwhichissuitableforautoclaving.Whentreatingsamplesinanyofthetesttubesthetemperatureofthesuspensionwillrise,especiallyifthequantitiesofthematerialbeingtreatedaresmall.Toavoidthistemperaturerise,immersethetubecontainingthemediuminabeakercontainingcrushediceorasuitablecoolingmixture.Thebeakercanbeplacedontheadjustableplatformandthevesselcontainingmediumheldinthelaboratoryclamp.However,ifthemediumbeingtreatedisparticularlysensitivetotemperature,thenoneofthecooledtreatmentvesselsdescribedinsections4.3,4.3and4.4shouldbeused.4.3BatchTreatmentVesselThisconsistsofaninnerchambertocontainupto50mlofsampletobetreated,surroundedbyacoolingjacketthroughwhichasuitablecoolingliquid(e.g.icedwateroralcohol)canbecirculated.4.4ContinuousFlowVesselThisisavailableforthetreatmentofevenlargervolumeswheretherequireddisintegrationtimeisrelativelyshort.Thisvesselhasbothinletandoutlettubestotheinnerchamberwhichallowsthesampletobepassedcontinuouslythroughatameasuredflowrateasdisintegrationtakesplace.Aperturesareprovidedinthebackoftheultrasoniccabinetsothattheliquidfeed-linescanbepassedthroughtothetreatmentvesselsandpermitsonicationwiththecabinetdoorclosed.

OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONS195.OPERATINGINSTRUCTIONSMisusesinclude:a)Impedingairflow.b)Incorrectpositioningoftheprobeswithrespecttothetransducer(seesection3.4).c)Lackofprobemaintenance(seesection3.5).d)Probeinliquid(foaming).5.1ManualControla)Plugthe3pinplugintothepoweroutlet.Switchthegreensupplyrockerswitchtoits‘ON’position(itsinnerLEDwillilluminate).b)Openthedoor,placethevesselcontainingthesampletobetreatedontheplatform,orifatesttube,clampinpositionandsetupforsonicationasrequired.Closethedoor.c)Presstheoverrideswitch,theamberlampwillilluminateandsonicationcancommenceonceamplificationisset(ifnotsetcorrectlyfromapreviousoperation).d)Ifnotset,thenselectamplitudelevelrequired.e)Aftersonicationiscomplete,switchthesupplyrockerswitchtoits’OFF’position.5.2TimerControla)Carryoutinstructionsinsection5.1a)andb).b)Settime,1to10minutes,byturningknobclockwise.ImmediatelytheTimerbuttonisturnedclockwisetheStartbuttonlampwilllightup,andafterthetimeselectedonthetimerhasrunout,sonicationwillceaseandthelampwillgooff.5.3OptionalProcessTimerUnit(230Vunitsonly)a)PlacetheProcesstimerUnitontopoftheSoniprep.b)Connectthetwocablesfromtheprocesstimer-oneterminatinginathree-pinplug(power)andtheotherterminatinginafive-pinplug(control)-tothecorrespondingsocketsontherearoftheSoniprep.5.4OperatingInstructionsa)Setupthedesiredoperatingconditionsonthedigitalswitchesoftheprocesstimerunit.b)EnsuretheSonipreppowerisONandthattheamplitudeissetorsetwhenthesonicationstarts.TheoverrideswitchshouldbeturnedOFF.c)Switchontheprocesstimermainsswitch.Thegreenmainslampwillilluminate.d)Pressthestartswitchpush-buttonontheprocesstimerunit.TheSoniprepwillnowoperateunderthecontroloftheprocesstimerunit.Ifitisrequiredtostoptheprocessduringsonication,pressthestopbuttonontheprocesstimerunit.Sonicationwillceaseandthetimerwillresetforthenextcycle.