Synchronous Buckets SOPs

Collecting Synchronous Buckets

A. Perform all the following operations that you would for one bucket on two buckets.

1. Make sure that the bucket is in working order and that all fittings are snug. Use two 9/16" wrenches to tighten the "jam" nut bulkhead fittings if necessary. Make sure that the nut and ferrule set will accommodate the Tedlar™ bag nozzle snugly. If the nut at the bottom needs tightening, you must hold the "jam" nut on the outside of the lid constant. It is imperative that the entire assembly be tight.

2. Attach the Tedlar™ bag securely by inserting the white nozzle into the nut at the bottom of the lid. This should be relatively airtight.

3. Make sure the bag is fully evacuated (flattened). Close the valve on the Tedlar™ bag fully.

4. Close the black valve on top of the lid (inlet valve) by turning the black handle to the horizontal position. Open the Tedlar™ bag valve one full turn. One full turn means 360 degrees, or "once around the block" or "once around the clock."

5. Close the bucket lid tightly with the Tedlar™ bag inside the bucket, making sure the bag is not caught on anything or otherwise restricted.

6. Shove the 3/8" Tygon™ tubing from the black inlet valve all the way up into the vacuum pump. [Note: for a synchronous two-bucket operation, two vacuum pumps are required].

7. Get the stopwatch ready - reset it if necessary.

B. The following describes the steps unique to a two-bucket operation.

1. Position the two buckets about the same height as close to one another as possible.

2. Simultaneously turn on the two vacuum pumps and stand them on end or set them down near their respective buckets.

3. Thirty seconds after turning on the vacuum pumps, simultaneously open the two black inlet valves on the top of the bucket by turning the black handle vertically. The arrow should point down. Start timing. Note: If you started timing when the pumps were turned on, which is OK, then open the black inlet valves after 30 seconds.

4. After three minutes elapsed time (3½ minutes elapsed time if you started timing when the pumps were turned on), simultaneously close the two black inlet valves by turning the black handle to the horizontal position.

5. As quick as reasonably possible, turn off the two vacuum pumps, open the lids and close the Tedlar™ bag valves. Remove the bags by pulling out the stem leaving the nut and ferrule attached to the bucket fittings.

6. Fill out the Chain-of-Custody on both bags and follow those instructions.

Synchronous Buckets SOPs

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