The sample vial should be intact and clean. This video shows how to clean and dry the sample vial for any debris. If the O-ring is sticking to the recess, compressed air is a convenient means to remove the O-ring without damaging the recess.

The sample should be carefully weighed into the sample vial without depositing sample on the threading.

Vidoe of the sample loading procedure. A sample has already been weighed in a clean cup. A liquid nitrogen dewar is available for the freezing of the sample. The fluid path is briefly flushed with helium with an empty cup attached. The stopper is attached to the exit tubing. Then the empty sample cup is removed and the new sample is attached to the fluid path. Tighten the vial with the wrench tool (1/4 turn). Freeze the sample and proceed with pressurizing the fluid path before insertion into the air lock.

Brief video of the attachment of the sample vial to the fluid path. A vial with the sample and a new O-ring has been placed in position 3. The vial is attached gently by hand to the fluid path and tightened by hand. Use the wrench tool to tighten another approx. quarter turn until the marks meet.

Loading of dissolution medium and heating.

Dissolution of 22 mg of [1-13C]pyruvic acid in 2.5 mL of TRIS buffer. If tighter control of the solvent volume is needed the loading syringe can be weighed.

After the dissolution, the sample is removed from the air lock to the vial holder. The fluid path is cleaned with cleaning medium (water/EDTA) once or twice as appropriate by pushing the “Clean Dissolution Module” in the software. After the cleaning, the fluid path should be dried by pushing the “Dry Dissolution Module” button in the software.