Dear Myles:

We use Labco Exetainer caps on 13 x 100 mm borosilicate glass vials
[Fisher Scientific catalog # 14-962-26F].  These vials have a round
bottom, so there should be no problem getting the small amount of
acid to contact your sample.  The only drawback is that due to
variability, about 10% of the borosilicate vials are too large to fit
into the heated block.

>Hi everyone,
>
>Our lab is beginning the automated analysis of carbonates using a Finnigan
>Mat Gas Bench coupled to a Delta Plus. Our present difficulty is in getting
>the small amount of acid dispensed into the vacutainers to meet with the
>small amount of carbonate (0.5 mg) located on the flat bottom of the
>vacutainer. I have heard that there is such a thing as miniature
>lightweight disposable "cones" available for this purpose. The carbonates
>are weighed directly into this lightweight cone on a balance. Then this
>cone with carbonate in the bottom of it is fitted inside the flat bottomed
>vacutainer. This supposedly enables the small drop of acid dropped into the
>vacutainer to meet with all of the small amount of carbonate. If you know
>of a supplier of such a thing as this please let me know.
>
>Thank you,
>
>Myles Stocki
>University of Saskatchewan

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Steve Nelson
Dept. of Geology
S389 ESC
Brigham Young University
Provo. Utah  84602

voice:  1-801-378-8688
lab:    1-801-378-5124
FAX:    1-801-378-8143

Q.  How do you spell "scapegoat"?
A.  Wen Ho Lee.
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