Once the Archimedes has been set up, aligned, optimized and calibrated, it is ready to perform measurements. Before beginning the measurement process, ensure that the Sample port is loaded with water, the Reference port is loaded with 1/15 D2O solution and that the vials in the waste ports are empty.
The required dilution of the sample depends on the type of sensor you are using. Exceeding these recommended dilutions increases the probability of sensor blockage and can reduce the accuracy of the concentration measurement:
Micro H and Micro E (Up to 5 µm modal diameter, 8 µm absolute limit) – 107 particles/ml
Nano E (Up to 1.5 µm modal diameter, 2 µm absolute limit) – 108 particles/ml
1. Open the Experiment View on the Archimedes Software, and select “Acquire”.
2. Complete the New Experiment dialogue as per Figure 1, and click OK:
Figure 1: Experiment setup window
2. When prompted, exchange the vial of water for the sample, press OK, and change the load time to 60 seconds. The resonant frequency will change as the sample loads. Press OK to cancel the load when the frequency plot plateaus. The measurement will then commence.
If the Archimedes is going to be used to carry out further measurements, it should at least be loaded with water before the next measurement to prevent cross-contamination. Ideally, the system should be cleaned as per Section 5 between measurements.
If the Archimedes is not going to be used to perform further measurements, select Load, screw vials of ethanol into the Sample and Reference ports, load the system for 60 seconds and switch off the instrument.
If assistance is required in the setup or use of the Archimedes, please contact your local Malvern Panalytical representative, or you can contact helpdesk.
Other Basic Guides for Archimedes systems for resonance mass measurements are available:
