Support
We have covered to following support topics below:
PROCEDURE FOR LOADING SPMD DEPLOYMENT DEVICES
- After arriving at the deployment site and are preparing to place the devices into the water, etc., unscrew the lid on the deployment device. Some lids may give resistance, but the lid will unscrew. Notice that there is a threaded rod in the center of the device. The spider carriers will slide into the device on this rod. You can place the spiders in with the metal plate up or down.
- Work open the gallon can with a church key (screwdrivers, etc. deform and damage the lid).
- With clean hands, grasp the spider carrier by either the metal plate or center post and lift slightly. Do not touch the membranes -it could ruin the project. You will notice that the there is a metal plate that has flaps that are bent. These flaps allow the carrier to slide out of the can diagonally. Gently lift and pull the carrier out of the can taking care not to damage or abrade the membrane.
- While holding the spider carrier, slide the carrier into the deployment canister. Again, make sure that the threaded rod runs up through the carrier's center post (tube).
- If no spacers are called for, and all the carriers are loaded, thread the lid back onto the canister. CAUTION - start threading carefully. If there is resistance and the threads get crossed it could cost you more expense in lost time and possibly your project. Please take care!
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Be sure that the mounting ring on the lid matches with its
opposing ring on the device body. These rings
must be fastened together (unless your device is
a modified model). Failure to do so could result in the lid
unscrewing and dumping the spiders!
NOTE: When removing your SPMDs from their devices, basically do the reverse of the above procedures. A rubber mallet is probably the best tool to use to seal the lids back on the cans in the field. If using trip blanks, be sure to expose them during deployment as well as during removal of the test SPMDs. - Samples should be packed in ice for return to EST labs. Several plastic soda bottles of frozen water should be sufficient for a one day trip.
QA/QC of SPMDS
- Thickness of tubing is measured with calipers. Specifications are 75-90 µm/side.
- Width of tubing is measured.
- The polyethylene tubing is triple washed with optima grade hexane.
- A micropipettor is used to accurately deliver the required volume of triolein. The micropipettor is calibrated before each use.
- The SPMDs are heat sealed with an impulse sealer to create a molecular weld.
- Manufacture of the SPMDs takes place in an environmentally controlled chamber with vapor and particulate phase filters.
- Cleaned tubing and SPMDs are stored at -20.0°C.
- Triolein is analyzed for contaminates and frozen until use.
- Randomly selected SPMDs from each lot are dialyzed and analyzed for contaminates.
- For shipping, the SPMDs are sealed in gas tight paint cans (solvent rinsed) over argon gas.
TO INSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROJECT
- Upon arrival, the shipping containers should be placed into refrigerated storage, preferably below 5 °C, to await deployment.
- When opening the SPMD shipping cans, do not pry them open — work them open carefully. We have included a special opener to be used for this. It is imperative that the lid is not damaged or else the seal could be compromised.
- DO NOT HANDLE polyethylene membranes. Load the spider device as rapidly as possible into deployment canister. Please make sure that the SPMDs are not punctured or abraded by sharp objects.
- SPMDs are potent vapor phase samplers. Minimize exposure to ambient air. SPMDs start sampling air as soon as the lids are removed from the can. Document the exposure time.
- Expose trip blanks to site atmosphere and conditions in a manner equivalent to sampler SPMDs prior to and after water deployment. Open trip blank cans CAREFULLY with the supplied opener. The trip blanks do not need to be removed from the cans. After exposure, CAREFULLY RESEAL, label, freeze, and document. Use a rubber mallet to replace lids by lightly tapping on the edges of the lid.
- Locate SPMDs at a point which will be well hidden and yet can be found after deployment.
- Be cognizant of water temperature and flow rate at the site, and strong currents which could damage or cause the loss of the device. In strong currents it is best to place a deflector upstream to protect SPMDs from contact with gravel, sticks, etc.
- When using EST's deployment devices, make sure that the lid is screwed down tight and that the "Spider carriers" are not free to rotate on their axis. The mounting ring on the lid must match up with its opposing ring on the device body. THESE RINGS MUST BE FASTENED TOGETHER! Failure to do so could result in the lid unscrewing and dumping the SPMDs!
Hopefully these tips will help make this a successful deployment! GOOD LUCK!
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