Policies & FAQs

Policies & Safety

Welcome to the NMR Facility! This page outlines the essential policies, procedures, and safety guidelines for all users. Adhering to these rules ensures a safe and productive environment for everyone.

Safety

The NMR spectrometers contain powerful superconducting magnets that are always ON. The magnetic field may extend beyond the instrument itself and can pose significant risks.

  • Magnetic Field Hazard: People with pacemakers, neurostimulators, metal implants, or cochlear implants must not enter the NMR suite. The magnetic field can cause serious injury or death by interfering with these devices.
  • Metallic Objects: All loose metallic objects, including tools, keys, watches, phones, and loose change, will become projectiles and can be pulled into the magnet bore with extreme force, causing damage and potential injury. Secure or remove them before entering the facility.
  • Cryogens: The NMR magnets are cooled by liquid nitrogen and liquid helium. In an unlikely event of a magnet quench, nitrogen and helium can displace oxygen in the lab. This poses a significant asphyxiation hazard. If the oxygen monitor alarm sounds, evacuate immediately or do not enter the lab.
Instrument Access and Scheduling

Access to the NMR instruments requires training and adherence to the rules.

  • Initial Training: All new users must complete a hands-on training session with facility staff before they are granted independent access to any instrument. This is required even if you have previous experience with NMR, as facility-specific policies and equipment may differ.
  • Scheduling: Spectrometers with autosamplers are considered Walk-on instruments (300A, 400A, 500). Other instruments (400B, 600, 600A, 700) time must be reserved via the online scheduling system.
    • Booking Limits: Be mindful of time limits for each booking. Do not overstay your reserved time.
    • Cancellations: If you no longer need your scheduled time, please cancel your reservation at the earliest to allow others to book the slot.
    • Walk-on Instruments: 300A, 400A and 500 do not require scheduling. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Do not submit more than three samples for 1H NMR at one time.
Sample Preparation

Proper sample preparation is crucial for obtaining high-quality data and preventing damage to the NMR probe.

  • NMR Tubes: Use only high-quality, 5 mm NMR tubes with a length of 7 inches. The tube must be free of cracks or chips. You cannot use NMR tubes longer than 7 inches on the 500.
  • Sample Volume: Ensure your sample solvent column is approximately 5 cm high, preferably 0.6 ml for best resolution.
  • Filtering: The solution should be clear of precipitation or suspended particles as they may affect spectrum quality. Use filtration or centrifugation.
  • Label: Label NMR tubes clearly and accurately to avoid mix-up or loss. Helps track or retrieve samples.
Reporting Issues and Malfunctions

NMR instruments are complex and expensive. Promptly reporting any issues is critical to maintaining a functional facility.

  • Contact Staff: Immediately inform the NMR Assistant or the NMR Director about any instrument issues, such as a sample crash, spill, run failure, or software error. If in doubt, stop what you are doing and contact staff.
  • Notify NMR staff person (even if you clean the spill yourself). Dispose of hazardous waste and glass in the appropriate locations.
  • Do Not Attempt Repairs: Do not attempt to fix any instrument issues yourself. Only trained NMR staff are authorized to perform maintenance or repairs.
Facility Etiquette and Best Practices
  • Keep the NMR facility clean. Do not leave used Kimwipes on the desk. Please return the spinners to their box after your experiment. Do not leave them in random places, as they may go missing.
  • Samples must be removed immediately after experiments are completed. NMR samples on automated instruments will be recycled as per the unclaimed NMR sample policy.
  • Be mindful of other users. Do not remove other’s samples from autosamplers if they aren’t completed. Do not stop or reset other’s experiments to get ahead in the queue.
Unclaimed NMR Sample Policy

NMR users are responsible for the immediate retrieval of their samples upon experiment completion.

  • Initial Holding (3 Months):
    • Completed samples will be placed in a designated bin labeled with the current month.
    • Samples are held here for a three-month period.
  • Transfer for Reuse/Disposal:
    • After three months, any remaining samples are moved to a secondary bin labeled "For Reactives Collection."
    • Users are free to take any tubes from this "For Reactives Collection" bin for reuse.
    • Any tubes remaining in this bin will be disposed of during reactives collection.