Spectrophotometers, in general, are highly specialized and expensive equipment. Its preservation depends to a large extent on the way it is installed and used. The environment around them and the quality of electricity services are of paramount importance, so that the equipment can provide the services according to the specifications for which they were manufactured. The maintenance routines that may be required vary in complexity, ranging from careful cleaning of components to specialized procedures, which should only be performed by technicians or engineers who have received the corresponding training and have the technical information developed by the manufacturers.

Preventive maintenance of the spectrophotometer must comply with the routines and frequencies recommended by the manufacturer.

Here is a group of basic routines that can be done in the laboratory

1. Externally clean the spectrophotometer, including controls, screens or measuring meters. This can be done with a piece of fine fabric – similar to the texture of handkerchiefs – moistened with distilled water.
2. Inspect and clean the power cord.
3. Check that the lamp is clean and in good condition. If it does not work, install a new one, with the same specifications as the original one. In modern spectrophotometers, the lamp status is automatically detected by software that monitors the condition and operation of the equipment, so it is easy to determine when the lamp needs to be changed. Replace the bulb and adjust it afterwards according to the procedure recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Check the protection fuse. Before opening the fuse housing, check that the spectrophotometer is switched off and that your contacts are clean and in good condition.Place the instrument in the operational configuration.
5. Operate the ignition switch for five (5) minutes. Verify the following:
6. Whether the bulbs or pilot indicators are working.
7. If the reading indicator stays at zero (0).
8. If the source light works.
9. Perform a leakage current test in the on and off positions.
10. Check the ground pole and correct polarity.
11. Check the correct polarity without ground pole.
12. Check reverse polarity without ground pole.
13. Calibrate the front panel of the spectrophotometer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
14. Measure the sensitivity of the equipment.
15. Perform a test following Beer’s law.
16. Return the spectrophotometer to the initial configuration, if the calibration has been carried out successfully.

Good practice in the use of the spectrophotometer

• Calibrate the spectrophotometer each time a group of samples is analyzed.
• Keep the cover of the sample holder closed during the measurement process to ensure a proper reading.
• Avoid re-use of disposable cups.
• Use only quartz cells for analyzes below 310 nm.
• Avoid the use of plastic buckets, if organic solvents are used.
• Use high quality boron silicate glassware to prepare the standards. Avoid the use of sodium-oxide glassware whenever possible, because prolonged contact with standards can permeate it and, consequently, produce erroneous results.
• Carefully clean the glass bowls after use. Discard scratches on the polished surface.
• Use high quality reagents where possible. Low-quality reagents can cause contamination even at very low concentrations. The diluents used – water or solvents – must be free of impurities.
• Verify that the samples or standards have not been degassed within the tanks.
• To take into account, when intending to use new procedures, that not all substances comply with Beer’s law. Perform linearity tests on the range of concentrations to be used.

Thinking of you at Kalstein we offer you high quality spectrophotometers and high performance, which will be of great help in your laboratory, thanks to its versatility and technology. That’s why we invite you to take a look at our spectrophotometers available HERE