Monday - Create a blow-down module, do final blow down of practice samples, bake out glassware
Tuesday - Make serial dilutions of PRC and mix of analytes for calibration curve, make internal standard composite, log in samples, do solvent cleaning of field samples from the first retrieval, do dialysis of field samples and QC, run practice samples on GC, check some calibration standards on GC
Wednesday - Blow down samples, run calibration standards on GC, travel to St. Louis
Thursday - 2nd and final retrieval, travel back to Dakar
Friday - Log in samples, solvent cleaning of 2nd retrieval samples, run 1st retrieval samples on GC, clean glassware
Today Adama and I were able to create a blow down system (seen in picture below) that should work until a suitable replacement can be purchased (like a turbo-vap). We thoroughly cleaned all the parts of the new blow-down system we could. We tested the oven today and we found that the oven takes a long time to cool down. There is no exhaust fan, it is all internal. This will increase the time that the glassware will be unavailable to us as it is cooling. We can crack the door and get a decent rate of cool down, but when the oven shuts the heating coils off in the middle of the night it does not cool much before we arrive in the morning unfortunately. We started working on the paperwork for the standards to make tomorrow go faster.
On Friday I talked to Baba about getting the hood motors fixed since only one worked and it was underpowered. A technician came by today to check it out and told Baba, he would need to upgrade all the motors and replace them for the hoods to work effectively...I would agree. Also we had a guy come about the stainless steel counter-top and hood. He made measurements and can probably start this week. I think Baba said it would take about 2 to 3 days to complete when he starts. I believe it will be made with nice 1.5 mm stainless.
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