Sample Cell Disassembly and NaCl Window Cleaning

Sample holder disassembly and cleaning

After each use the sample holder should be disassembled and the NaCl windows cleaned. Leaving the salt windows exposed to your sample and the moist atmosphere will seriously damage them. Don't leave the sample holder in the spectrophotometer for some else to clean up. This is your responsibility.

Separate the NaCl windows and apply several drops of dry acetone.

The acetone we use has been stored over a drying agent to remove excess moisture that would otherwise damage the salt windows.

Gently pat dry with a Kim Wipe ...DO NOT RUB!!!

Use an up and down motion. Rubbing will scratch the surfaces of the windows.

Put the NaCl windows back into the petri dish and desiccator.

If another student is in line it is okay to pass the NaCl windows on to her/him.

Don't leave the desiccator open to the atmosphere for long. Otherwise it will remove moisture from the air of the entire metro area and adversely affect the weather