Waters Positive Pressure-96 Operator's Manual

[ OPERATOR’S GUIDE ]

Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor

CONTENTS

I. SYST EM OVE RVIEW

a. Features

II. INSTALLING T HE WATERS POSITIV E
PRESSURE-96 PROCESSOR

a. Installation overview
b. Site requirements
c. Unpacking the processor
d. Installing the processor

III. USING T HE WATERS POSITIV E
PRESSURE-96 PROCESSOR

a. Configuring the trays

b. Plate compression
c. Operating the manifold
d. Controlling positive pressure with flow restrictors
e. Adjusting the extraction flow

IV. MAINTAINING THE WATERS POSITIVE
PRESSURE-96 PROCESSOR

a. Maintenance considerations

b. Replacing the 96-place sealing gasket
c. Cleaning the 96-place sealing gasket
d. Storage requirements for the 96-place sealing gasket
e. Cleaning the device’s exterior

V. A P P EN DIC E S

a. Safety Advisories
i. Warning symbols
ii. Task-specific hazard warnings
iii. Burst Warning
iv. Caution symbol
v. Warnings that apply to all Waters instruments
vi. Handling symbols

b. Spare Parts
c. Safety considerations

i. Safety advisories
d. Operating this device

i. Applicable symbols
ii. Audience and purpose
iii. Intended use of the Waters Positive

Pressure-96 Processor

I. SYST EM OVERVIEW

a. Features

The Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor offers state-of-the-art
operation for solid-phase extraction (SPE), filtration in plates and
1cc flangless cartridges in 96-well formats. Each of the 96 holes in
the processor is restricted in order to maintain constant pressure,
even if all the plate well positions are not filled. Positive pressure
processing offers many advantages over traditional vacuum
manifold processing.

Positive Pressure-96 Processor.

The advantages of positive pressure processing include:

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Reproducible analyte recoveries—the manifold gasket with
96 independent ports provides restricted output of inert gas
at every port. The processor exerts the same motive force to
every port whether it has a full well, dry well or no well access
at all. This provides the most uniform SPE extraction which may
improve the reproducibility of analyte recoveries.

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Improved flow for viscous samples—the processor allows for
gas pressures of 60 to 100 psi (optimal gas pressure is 80 psi),
supplying greater motive force for viscous sample flow.
Adjusting the pressure up or down provides smooth, immediate
flow response and high flow control on variable viscosity
plasma samples in a 96-well plate.

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Fits all 96-well plate formats—the processor is self-adjusting
to plate height, thus accommodating most 96-well plate formats.

[ OPERATOR’S GUIDE ]

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Easy-to-use design—simply assemble the loaded SPE and
collection plates, and position the assembly on the processor
slide tray platform. Slide the tray to the rear of the processor
until the assembly stops under the manifold. Two toggle
switches on the sides of the unit activate the compression
mechanism. If the user lets go of the buttons too soon, the
manifold mechanism will automatically open. This unique
built-in safety feature is designed to keep the user hands clear
of moving parts during the compression and decompression
cycle, ensuring the safety of the operator.

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Superior SPE flow control—the processor exerts fine control
on the SPE flow through the plate. The inert gas flow can be
adjusted by switching the “SPE Flow Rate” selector to the
left (Low Flow setting). The gas delivered to the Positive
Pressure-96 Processor through the adjustable flow regulator
and through the rotometer (on the left). The rotometer is
controlled by the needle valve located at its base. This will
provide a uniform and controlled flow through the entire SPE
96-well plate without the impact on flow from empty wells.

c. Unpacking the processor

The processor is shipped with the following items:

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Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor

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Operator’s guide

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Installation kit

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μElution positive pressure spacer

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10 mL x 24 well waste bin tray

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1 mL x 96 well collection tray

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Quick Start Guide

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Handling viscous samples—the gas delivery system can
provide rapid gas flow to the manifold. This flow is controlled
by adjusting the regulator located below the pressure gauge
labeled “Max Flow”. The pressure range is 0 to 100 psi and is
used to maximize flow through the SPE 96-well plate for processing
viscous samples, and significantly reducing the risk of well
plugging by such samples.

II. INSTALLING THE WATERS POSITIVE
PRESSURE-96 PROCESSOR

a. Installation overview

The Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor is for laboratory use
only. It must be set up inside a hood vent whenever possible and
requires an inert gas supply of 60 to 100 psig.

b. Site requirements

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Indoor-use only

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Maximum altitude: 2000 meters

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Ambient temperature range: 5 to 40 °C

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Maximum relative humidity of 80% for temperatures up to 31 °C,
decreasing linearly to 50% relative humidity at 40 °C

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Installation Category II

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Pollution Degree 2 Environment

Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor

d. Installing the processor

Compressed nitrogen is the recommended pressure source in order
to ensure inert atmosphere operation.

The Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor is supplied with an
installation kit which includes:

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6 feet of 1/8-inch i.d. (1/4-inch o.d.) polyethylene tubing

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Connectors to 1/8-inch NPT or 1/4-inch NPT

Use the tubing and fittings provided to connect the unit to a regulated
oil free gas source.

Regulated source pressure.

Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor

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[ OPERATOR’S GUIDE ]

Tip: The optimum source pressure is 80 psig, the minimum pressure

is 60 psig, and the maximum pressure is 100 psig.

Caution: The Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor does not

include a filter on the source gas input. A clean, oil-free gas source

is essential to prevent sample contamination.

III. USING THE WATERS POSITIV E
PRESSURE-96 PROCESSOR

a. Configuring the plates

The Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor provides the means to
batch process solid-phase extraction in all Waters 96-well plates,
filtration plates and 1 cc flangeless cartridges in the 96-position
format. The processor accommodates both integrated and modular
plates stacked onto a variety of collection plates. The holder
maintains plate guides for the proper positioning of the collection
plate throughout the sample sequence. Both the holder and
collection plate should be stacked to match precisely so that when
they are correctly aligned, the assembly sits level on the slide
tray platform.

platform. Each column will be pressurized equally, even if wells or
cartridges are omitted. Refer to “Operating the manifold” on page
4 for further explanation. Slide the slide tray to the rear of the
processor until it reaches the stop locating it under the manifold.

The two toggle switches used to activate the compression mechanism
are located on opposite sides of the processor. Both toggle
switches must be pressed at the exact same time to open or
close the compression mechanism. Activate the plate compression
mechanism by depressing the switches until the manifold has
stopped moving (2 to 3 seconds). If you let go too soon, the
manifold mechanism will automatically open. This is a safety
feature designed to keep your hands clear of moving parts during
the compression and decompression cycle.

The Waters 96-well plate formats align to the collection plates
while the Waters μElution plates are placed onto the μElution
positive pressure spacer, and then stacked onto the collection
plate so that sample position for both of these integrated plates
are preserved throughout the sample sequence.

Installing the plate in the Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor.

b. Plate compression

Assemble the appropriate 96-well plate, μElution plate, or 1 cc
flangeless cartridges and collection plate and position the
assembly on the Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor slide tray

Sealing the plate.

Decompression of the rack assembly is activated similarly. Both
toggle switches must be depressed simultaneously until the
manifold has stopped moving. Slide the rack assembly forward
until it reaches the stop and proceed with the next step of the method.
The compression speed is pre-set and is not adjustable. The
pressure applied to the compression system is pre-set and is not
adjustable.

c. Operating the manifold

The 96 holes in the processor manifold are restricted in order to
maintain the manifold pressure even if all of the positions are not
filled by columns. With no cartridges in place or if some of the
wells in the plate are empty, there is approximately 0.75 ±.05
scfh of flow through a hole at 25 psig.

Waters Positive Pressure-96 Processor

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