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Nicolet iS5 FTIR Quick Guide Print on Letter paper at 100%, two-sided, flipping on the long edge.
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DMSE Breakerspace - Trained-user reference

Nicolet iS5 FTIR Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific ยท Routine iD7 ATR SOP. The complete normal-use sequence in one place; use the OMNIC visual map on the reverse to locate controls.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

1 Instrument startup

  • Power on the instrument, if needed.
  • Log on to the instrument workstation using your MIT Kerberos.
  • Start OMNIC software.
  • Verify System Status shows a green check. If it does not, stop and ask staff.
  • Remove the protective cover from the ATR crystal plate.
  • Clean and dry the ATR crystal.
  • Collect a background before loading samples.

2 Operation

  • Wear nitrile gloves when handling samples, ATR accessories, the pressure tower, pressure tips, Kimwipes, or cleaning solvent.
  • Remove gloves before using the keyboard, mouse, or instrument workstation.
  • Clean the ATR crystal before each sample or whenever contamination is possible.
  • Choose the sampling method and pressure tip appropriate for the sample.
  • Load the sample so it makes good contact with the ATR crystal or the selected accessory.
  • Collect the sample spectrum.
  • Save each spectrum you need. Spectra must be selected and saved individually.
  • Wear gloves again before unloading the sample or cleaning the crystal.
  • Repeat background, sample collection, cleaning, and saving as needed.
  • If negative or unexpected features suggest a contaminated background, wear gloves to unload the sample, clean and dry the crystal and plate, then remove gloves and collect a complete new background with the crystal bare and unclamped. Reload and recollect the sample; stop and ask staff if the features remain.

3 Instrument shutdown

  • Save all data you need and copy it to your own storage; the workstation is not a backup.
  • Close OMNIC.
  • Log off the workstation.
  • Clean and dry the ATR crystal.
  • Put the cover on the crystal plate and clamp it in place using the pressure tower.
  • Leave the instrument powered on. The manufacturer recommends leaving the instrument powered when not in use.
  • Leave the work area clean and remove all samples, wipes, and waste.
Content derived from the canonical FTIR SOP - Owner: lab manager Updated 2026-08-12 - Page 1 of 2

DMSE Breakerspace - Nicolet iS5 FTIR

OMNIC visual map

Use this side to find the controls. Follow the SOP on the reverse for the workflow.

Main OMNIC window

The routine controls stay in the top toolbar; System Status must show a green check.

OMNIC main window with Col Bkg, Col Smp, and Save in the top toolbar, the iD7 ATR experiment selected, and green System Status at upper right.
1 Col Bkg 2 Col Smp 3 Save selected spectrum 4 System Status

Preview checks sample contact

Level 1 uses Preview Data Collection enabled. The live background preview is not a pass/fail test; confirm its clean, dry, bare, unclamped setup instead.

OMNIC sample preview with a red trace remaining near zero despite noise.
No or weak contact: if the trace remains near zero or the signal is weak, re-seat the sample or use the appropriate pressure tip. Ask staff if it stays weak.
OMNIC sample preview with a red sample spectrum and the Start Collection control at upper right.
Contact established: a change from near zero to a sample spectrum shows ATR is detecting the sample, not that the spectrum has universally passed. When setup is ready, select Start Collection; ask staff about unresolved weak, negative, or unexpected features.