Design of an Automated Instrument for Washing EPR Sample Tubes

doi:10.11938/cjmr20243121

Abstract

Abstract:

Many quartz tubes are used in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments. These tubes are long and thin, and difficult to clean. To address the problem, an automated washing instrument for EPR sample tubes is designed. The whole instrument mainly includes a water purification machine, water storage tank, booster pump, air compressor, controller, solenoid valve pipeline, and washing rack. Fully automatic washing and drying of EPR sample tubes is achieved by controlling the solenoid valve and the motor/lifter through a Raspberry Pi computer, relay extension module, and Python Graphical User Interface (GUI) program. The instrument is used to clean EPR sample tubes that had contained solid and viscous liquid. The results demonstrate that the instrument has excellent cleaning performance (no impurity signals under low-temperature conditions of T =2 K) and high efficiency (completing a cleaning and drying cycle within 5 min), showcasing significant practical application value.

Key words: automated, washing, magnetic resonance, EPR, sample tubes

CLC Number:

O482.53

LI Jingxin, TONG Wei, YU Lu, ZHANG Zhitao, PI Li. Design of an Automated Instrument for Washing EPR Sample Tubes[J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(1): 89-95.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

References 8

[1]	HU X M, HU Y W. NMR tube quick dry method[J]. Laboratory Science, 2012, 15(3): 187-188.
	胡小铭, 胡艺文. 核磁管的快速干洗法[J]. 实验室科学, 2012, 15(3): 187-188.
[2]	HU X M. The use and maintenance of nuclear magnetic tubes[J]. Experimental Teaching and Instruments. 1995, 2: 31.
	胡小铭. 核磁管的使用与保养[J]. 实验教学与仪器, 1995, 2: 31.
[3]	WANG C R, HUANG T K. Techniques of cleaning, drying, degassing and sealing of NMR tubes[J]. Chemical Bulletin, 1985, (6): 29-30.
	王成瑞, 黄铁康. 核磁共振管的清洗、干燥、去气和封结技术[J]. 化学通报, 1985, (6): 29-30.
[4]	TANG A N, REN Y C, DENG X J, et al. The development of cleaning methods for liquid nuclear magnetic resonance tubes[J]. Univ. Chem. 2021, 36(2): 172-176.
	唐安娜, 任彦丛, 邓小娟, 等. 液体核磁管清洗方法进展[J]. 大学化学, 2021, 36(2): 172-176.
[5]	北京欣维尔玻璃仪器有限公司. 欣维尔产品目录[OL] 2020, 126. http://www.xinweier.com
[6]	NGUYEN T B. Vacuum desiccator as a simple, robust, and inexpensive NMR tube cleaner[J]. Org Process Res Dev, 2016, 20(2): 319. doi: 10.1021/acs.oprd.6b00001
[7]	TAO Y C, WANG C Y. Design and implementation of a portable high-pressure cleaner for cleaning nuclear magnetic resonance sample tubes[J]. Chinese J Magn Resonan, 2020, 37(2): 193-199.
	陶艳春, 王春宇. 一种手持便携式核磁共振样品管高压清洗器的设计与实现[J]. 波谱学杂志, 2020, 37(2): 193-199. doi: 10.11938/cjmr20192761
[8]	KON H. Parmagnetic resonance of molecular oxygen in condensed phases[J]. J Am Chem Soc, 1973, 95(4): 1045-1049.

[1]	MENG Jingxin, WANG Yuanjun. Research Progress on Tractography of Superficial White Matter Based on Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(2): 205-220.
[2]	CHEN Bo, LIU Quan, MA Lei, CHEN Shunian, JIA Yaqi, ZHU Bin, GUO Junwang. Simulink-based Simulation Study of Continuous Wave Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Signal Processing and Detection [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(2): 174-183.
[3]	CHEN Qun, YANG Zijian, CHENG Xinyi, JIA Siyi, DU Xiaoxia, WANG Mengxing. Application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology in Pediatric Exercise Intervention Research [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(2): 195-204.
[4]	ZUO Bingyu, SHI Lili, SONG Jia, ZHAO Yang, LI Qian. Application of Estrogen and Tumor Markers Combined with DCE-MRI in Diagnosis and Clinical Staging of Cervical Cancer [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(2): 164-173.
[5]	SHAO Zhengze, WANG Xingle, YANG Xue, XIN Jiaxiang, WEI Daxiu, YAO Yefeng. A Spectral Editing Technique Based on Optimized Control of Nuclear Spin to Realize Lactate Signal Selection [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(1): 1-12.
[6]	YANG Jiacheng, WANG Yuanjun. Improved Constrained Spherical Deconvolution for Microstructural Imaging of Brain Gray Matter [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(1): 67-79.
[7]	SHEN Zhiqiang, DENG Yabo, YANG Peiju, HU Xiaoxue, HUANG Xiaojuan, XU Chuanzhi, SONG Huanling. Design and Application of an in situ NMR Device for Light-Induced Reaction Systems [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(1): 22-33.
[8]	SONG Yanzuo, YU Huiyuan, CHEN Jingzhi, SHEN Yue, XU Xianneng, XU Zheng. Topology Optimization Method of Magnetic Resonance Logging Sensor Magnet Structure [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025, 42(1): 80-88.
[9]	PANG Qifan, WANG Zhichao, WU Yupeng, LI Jianqi. The Impact of K-Space Filling Strategy on Fat Artifacts in APT Imaging Based on FLASH Sequence [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(4): 443-453.
[10]	LUO Wenyou, RONG Xing. A W-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Probe Based on Fabry-Perot Cavity [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(4): 393-404.
[11]	HUANG Min, ZHU Junlin, KAO Yuchen, ZHOU Dao, TANG Qiling. Multi-Coil MRI Image Reconstruction Based on ISTAVS-Net of Physical Model [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(4): 418-429.
[12]	LIU Tingwei, PENG Bowen, XU Yajie, WANG Ya, WANG Feng, YU Peng, YANG Xiaodong. A Design of Active Shimming Power Supply for Magnetic Resonance Spectrometers [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(2): 117-127.
[13]	FENG Yuan, QIU Suhao, YAN Fuhua, YANG Guang-Zhong. Magnetic Resonance Elastography and Its Application in Brain Diseases [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(2): 209-223.
[14]	ZHANG Haowei, WANG Yuncheng, LIU Ying. Brain Age Assessment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder Based on Convolutional Neural Network [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(2): 139-150.
[15]	LI Zhengzhe, GUO Liang, REN Xuhu. A Passive Shimming Method for Halbach Magnet Based on Numerical Optimization Algorithm [J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2024, 41(2): 128-138.