Feb 27, 2024
Elutriator operation protocol
- 1The Ohio State University
Protocol Citation: Casey A Schlenker 2024. Elutriator operation protocol. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.36wgq3x6olk5/v1
License: This is an open access protocol distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Protocol status: Working
We use this protocol and it's working
Created: February 27, 2024
Last Modified: February 27, 2024
Protocol Integer ID: 95842
Abstract
Operation of The OSU Soybean Pathology and Nematology elutriator
Turning elutriator on
Turning elutriator on
Turn on the water supply by turning the red valve on the wall counterclockwise. Open the flow for both hoses by turning the small yellow handles parallel to the hoses.
Turn on the air compressor, located outside the greenhouse door behind the metal gate
Open the red air valve, located where the air hose meets the elutriator, to the vertical (open) position
Turn on the "power" toggle on the elutriator to the on position
Pull the "dump" button out so that the collection cones move to the upright position
If the air compressor hasn't been running long enough, there may not be enough pressure to raise the cones. Wait a few minutes, and then try again.
Once cones are moved to the upright position, the shower heads will rinse out the elutriator cones and collection cones
Preparing the elutriator to run samples
Preparing the elutriator to run samples
Ensure that the sieves are on top of the collection funnels
For SCN: place a 20 sieve at an angle facing the elutriator cones on top of a 60 sieve
For vermiform: place a 20 sieve at an angle facing the elutriator cones on top of a 60 sieve. Place a 100 sieve on top of a 400 sieve, and place on the shaker racks. Ensure vermiform hoses are all going into their corresponding sieves
Running samples
Running samples
Ensure to press START before dumping samples, or samples will be lost
Set elutriator to 5:00 minutes for SCN, or 8:00 minutes for vermiform
After pressing start, wash samples into elutriator cones
Ensure that streams of water are caught entirely by the sieves
After cycle completes, collect samples from sieves
For SCN: Thoroughly wash 20 and 60 sieves until water runs clear. Wash sample from 60 sieve into a labeled 50 mL tube.
For vermiform: Thoroughly wash 20 and 60 sieves until water runs clear. Wash 20 and 60 mesh sieves into labeled Baermann funnels. Thoroughly wash 100 and 400 sieves until water runs clear. Wash 100 and 400 sieves into labeled 50 mL tube.
Clean sieves with high-pressure water to ensure that no sample remains in them
Push the DUMP button in, and wash cones with spray nozzle. Once cones are clean, pull DUMP button out to reset cones.
Repeat steps 6-12
Turning elutriator off
Turning elutriator off
Wash the elutriator tub with the spray nozzle to clean it
Turn the water off by turning the yellow handles on the hoses perpendicular, and the red valve on the wall clockwise
Turn the red air valve to the horizontal (OFF) position. Turn off the air compressor.
Toggle elutriator power switch to OFF
Press DUMP button in
Cleaning the soil traps under the elutriator4 steps
These steps may be necessary if the soil traps under the elutriator are clogged, causing the water buckets to overflow
Cleaning soil trap
Cleaning soil trap
Remove excess water with a siphon
Use shovel to scoop sediment from traps into autoclave safe containers
Autoclave for 1 hour at 121C, 15psi
When cool, dispose of in the compost pile outside of the greenhouse