Hi Len,

I can reuse the quartz reduction tube many times without problems.  For
the oxidation tube there seems to be a chemical reaction going on which
leaves a thick coating that leads to the breaking.  If you cool slowly
and only run 100 samples or so, the oxidation tube may not crack.
Otherwise I count on a new tube if I ever cool things down.

I think this question was asked a short while back.  Ceramic tubes leak
a little at high temp and still might be effected by chemical reactions
as the oxidation chemicals age.  

 
Benjamin Harlow
Manager, Stable Isotope Core Laboratory
Washington State University
School of Biological Sciences
G-81 Eastlick
Pullman, WA  99164-4236
 
Office:  509-335-6161
Lab:     509-335-6154
Fax:     509-335-3184
 
Laboratory for Biotechnology and Bioanalysis (LBB2) Stable Isotope Core
http://www.isotopes.wsu.edu
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Stable Isotope Geochemistry [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Wassenaar,Len [NHRC]
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 2:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ISOGEOCHEM] Ceramic Columns on C+N EA?

After cooling and cracking another new quartz reactor column on the C+N
EA I am wondering if anyone has instead tried using thicker walled
ceramic columns normally used for pyrolysis?  Seems to me these are far
more robust and could be easily cleaned out and reused without the
filthy mess left by shattered qtz reactors? 

Anyone tested this? Pros, Cons?  

Len   


Leonard I. Wassenaar, Ph.D.
Stable Isotope Hydrology and Ecology Laboratory
Environment Canada
11 Innovation Blvd.
Saskatoon, SK
Canada S7N 3H5
tel (306) 975-5747
fax (306) 975-5143