6.32 Opening the Vials
To open a vial, slip the open end of the appropriate Extractor/Vial Opener over a threaded end- plug, align the pegs in the
If the Extractor/Vial Opener jams with the
If the Extractor/Vial Opener jams when being threaded into a cold end plug, this is probably due to water condensing on the extractor screw. The water freezes when it contacts a cold end plug. If this happens, make a habit of wiping off the screw with a paper towel before each use. Note that the end of the screw is tooled with an “X” cut to help remove any ice that forms on the end plug, but this is not always effective. Chilled vials can also be opened easily and quickly with the 6814
Rarely an end plug will stick in the vial when cold, even if the Extractor screw and end plug threads are dry and clean. If this happens do not force the end plug out, as you may damage the vial and/or the Extractor. First warm up the vial. The vial can be allowed to warm up gradually, wrapped in several layers of cloth or paper towels, or a
Caution: pressure can develop inside a Freezer/Mill vial as it is warming. This is most likely caused by some liquid nitrogen having been introduced into the vial when it was being loaded, so try to avoid this. As pressure builds, an end plug can pop out and the sample can be lost. For this reason we recommend handling vials with care when forcefully warming them, and wrapping them in toweling if they are being warmed up gradually.
6.33 Emptying the Vials
As soon as an end plug is removed from a cold vial, empty the contents of the vial into a suitable container: the quicker the better as condensation on a cold sample occurs rapidly. Often it is helpful to tap the closed end of the vial to release the ground sample. Remember that the impactor may slide out ahead of the contents or with them, and that the longer the sample is exposed to air, the more water it will acquire from condensation. Samples which were tacky, squishy, etc., at room temperature will also return to that state as they warm up, and may agglomerate.
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