TITLE: Elutriator operation protocol
AUTHORS: Casey A Schlenker

[DESCRIPTION]
Operation of The OSU Soybean Pathology and Nematology elutriator

[STEPS]
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
1. 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. 
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
2. Turn on the air compressor, located outside the greenhouse door behind the metal gate
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
3. Open the red air valve, located where the air hose meets the elutriator, to the vertical (open) position  
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
4. Turn on the "power" toggle on the elutriator to the on position 
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
5. Pull the "dump" button out so that the collection cones move to the upright position
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
5.1. 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.
SECTION: Turning elutriator on
5.2. Once cones are moved to the upright position, the shower heads will rinse out the elutriator cones and collection cones
SECTION: Preparing the elutriator to run samples
6. Ensure that the sieves are on top of the collection funnels
SECTION: Preparing the elutriator to run samples
6.1. For SCN: place a 20 sieve at an angle facing the elutriator cones on top of a 60 sieve
SECTION: Preparing the elutriator to run samples
6.2. 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
SECTION: Running samples
7. Ensure to press START before dumping samples, or samples will be lost
SECTION: Running samples
7.1. Set elutriator to 5:00 minutes for SCN, or 8:00 minutes for vermiform
SECTION: Running samples
8. After pressing start, wash samples into elutriator cones
SECTION: Running samples
9. Ensure that streams of water are caught entirely by the sieves
SECTION: Running samples
10. After cycle completes, collect samples from sieves
SECTION: Running samples
10.1. For SCN: Thoroughly wash 20 and 60 sieves until water runs clear. Wash sample from 60 sieve into a labeled 50 mL tube.
SECTION: Running samples
10.2. 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.

SECTION: Running samples
11. Clean sieves with high-pressure water to ensure that no sample remains in them
SECTION: Running samples
12. Push the DUMP button in, and wash cones with spray nozzle. Once cones are clean, pull DUMP button out to reset cones.
SECTION: Running samples
13. Repeat steps 6-12
SECTION: Turning elutriator off
14. Wash the elutriator tub with the spray nozzle to clean it
SECTION: Turning elutriator off
15. Turn the water off by turning the yellow handles on the hoses perpendicular, and the red valve on the wall clockwise 
SECTION: Turning elutriator off
16. Turn the red air valve to the horizontal (OFF) position. Turn off the air compressor.
SECTION: Turning elutriator off
17. Toggle elutriator power switch to OFF
SECTION: Turning elutriator off
18. Press DUMP button in
SECTION: Cleaning soil trap
19. Remove excess water with a siphon
SECTION: Cleaning soil trap
20. Use shovel to scoop sediment from traps into autoclave safe containers
SECTION: Cleaning soil trap
21. Autoclave for 1 hour at 121C, 15psi
SECTION: Cleaning soil trap
22. When cool, dispose of in the compost pile outside of the greenhouse