Day 20 - Last day at CERES

Today was my last day at the CERES lab.

Over the weekend, I prepared a listing of purification products that would serve CERES' needs. I also drew out diagrams demonstrating the proper plumbing sequence for the purification filters. These materials were given to Anna, explained, and discussed. All data files generated during my training session were copied to an external hard drive for transport back to OSU. Anna and I went over again the steps that remain for sample analysis and what CERES needs to do to complete each task (see Day 19 posting). I collected and prepared all OSU materials for transport back to the US except chemical solutions, the two analytical columns, 6 injection port liners, glass wool, one of the ammo boxes, and one of the wool tools. Furthermore, I worked with Kevin Hobbie (OSU) to determine GPS coordinates for sampling sites in Niger, however, CERES informed me that this laboratory did not collect coordinates because the lab did not own a GPS. Additionally, I met with Dogo to discuss what had been completed during my time at CERES and what remained to be completed. I gave my opinion about the importance of instrument maintenance for achieving an efficient high quality laboratory. Anna and Dogo agreed that this was something that needed to be improved upon and that a strategy needed to be developed and implemented to ensure analytical quality.

I depart from Dakar, Senegal back to Corvallis, Oregon on Wednesday the 12th.

  

     

Day 19 - 2

I arrived at CERES at 8AM and left at 4PM.

The current high pressure nitrogen and helium tanks that CERES purchases should have AT MOST 50 mL/tank of oxygen and 50 g/tank of moisture. Based on these values and the current capacity of the lab, I would recommend a system of pre-packed, replaceable, inline, high capacity purifiers and indicating traps. I will communicate this to the lab on Monday.

Anna, Marie, and I went over again the proper plumbing and sequencing of high capacity purifiers and indicating traps so that CERES is prepared to install them correctly upon their arrival. Additionally, Anna and I went over again how to fill in chromatography bench sheets and properly identify compounds by the GC-ECD method. Futhermore, Anna and I went over the next series of steps that CERES will need to take in order to successfully complete the analysis of this years PSDs - roughly 8-9 instrumental sequences. The steps discussed included:

1. Determine if CERES has access to higher quality instrument supply gases and assess the options.
2. Determine, purchase, and install an appropriate instrument gas supply purification system.
3. Develop a strategy for monitoring the state of the gas purification system.
4. Replace GC-ECD detectors... the back detector has priority, but both are in really poor shape.
5. Generate instrument blanks to demonstrate instrument baseline and system cleanliness.
6. Determine the state of DB-17ms and DB-XLB capillary columns by injecting standards and evaluating chromatography for consistency with OSU chromatography.
7. Re-calibrate the method to data quality objectives described in the SOP 404.04 - use the calibration standards brought over this training session
8. Analyze the samples as per the original training session's specifications, conduct real-time QC.
9. Save data files as excel spreadsheets along with window snapshots for data traceability. 
10. Send all saved materials to OSU on a per batch basis. 

I also found that Anna was limited on instrument and product literature, so I gave her several Agilent guides and other references including: the Agilent 6890 GC operating manual, Agilent ECD operating guide, Agilent ECD troubleshooting guide, the Agilent 2011-2012 product guide, a chromatography troubleshooting reference, and Supelco Bulletin 898C - gas management systems for GC. Furthermore, I met for about 10 minutes with Dogo and discussed how the project developed and where the lab will be as of my departure. I leave on Wednesday the 12th.