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Wed, 7 Sep 2005 10:54:54 -0600 |
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Dave,
I experienced leaky Labco vials at 90°C, but never (knock on wood) at 40°C
for waters. I was told by a few folks that if the Labco vials are stuck in
the top of the aluminum heated block then you have an older model block
that needs to be bored out a bit more so that the caps are loose. If the
caps are stuck in the top they are more likely to vibrate open. I don't
know if this is true, but sounds legitimate. I don't run carbonates at 90°C
anymore for a variety of problems, including leaky Labco caps. I wish there
was a 3.5ml flat-bottomed vial with threads that are better than the Labco
ones, but I have not found any.
Question:
If I want to re-use my Labco vials for water (no H3PO4 acid), what septa
have others reordered?
Toti.
At 05:00 AM 9/7/2005, Dave Mattey wrote:
>We recently experienced a problem with leaking septa on labco vials using
>our GV Multiflow system. It came to light when some water samples returned
>to us in pre-flushed vials had partially evaporated away.
>
>The problem has been traced to the temperature at which the vials are
>flushed - when the heater block is at 90°C there is no problem; I now
>realise the batches of leaking vials were flushed at 40°C and the needle has
>obviously (hindsight is a wonderful thing) punched a plug of rubber leaving
>a pinhole in the septum, which is harder and less pliable at 40°C.
>
>We mainly run carbonates and some DIC where the vials are flushed at 90°C
>and have not had any problem apart from the two recent batches flushed at
>the lower temperature. As we are about to start running 18O on water by CO2
>equilibration where flushing will regularly take place at 40°C there is
>obvious cause for concern here!
>
>Has anyone else noticed this as a general problem? I wonder if it could be
>a local problem with the needle or with the batch of elastomer used to make
>the Labco septa? Any input on this gratefully received.
>
>Best wishes
>
>Dave Mattey
Toti Larson Ph.D.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Earth and Environmental Sciences 505.667.9894 (lab)
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
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