Metrohm NIRS XDS RapidContent Analyzer - Manual (Page 30)

28 ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪
A ball catch (one on each leg) is used to hold the
sample cell in the correct position on the Sample
Carrier.
Be sure the sample cell is held by the ball catch at
each end. Close the door of the sample chamber
to exclude ambient light.
The Data Collection Method (DCM)
should be configured for a moving
sample, as shown in the screen at
right under “Cell:” This assures that
the sample will be moved across
the sampling window to
accumulate as much spectral data
as possible.
Take a reference scan, then a
sample scan of the sample.
(Full information on the DCM is
given in section 6.0.)
Following analysis, the cell should be cleaned to prevent sample carryover, which could affect
analysis. Cleaning depends upon the material, as some samples may simply be “dumped,” while
others require a more aggressive cleaning method. Always follow the precautions on the MSDS when
performing cleaning. Normal samples and cleaning methods include:
Sample Type Cleaning Method
• Free-flowing crystalline materials, pellets,
fibrous samples
Dump from sample cell; use sample brush to
dislodge stragglers. Wipe window with damp
cloth.
• Dense powders which tend to clump,
thick slurries
Remove with scoopula, clean cell and window
using a mild detergent solution, rinse, then
dry.
• Thick, pasty samples with high oil content Dig out using scoopula or other tool. Wash
cell and window in a strong detergent to
remove all residual sample material. Rinse and
dry.
Pharmaceutical applications may require a “Cleaning validation” which describes each step of the
cleaning process, solvents to be used, and specific verification tests to determine whether cleanliness
levels have been reached. Because a cleaning validation is sample-specific, Metrohm cannot
recommend detailed cleaning methods for such samples.