How to Take Best Care of the Glassware Used in Laboratories

by Evans Walsh seo consultant

It is obvious that for laboratory experiments to be successful and give accurate results, the glassware must not either be dirty or contaminated with grease, reactive materials or even bacteria. The presence of grease, for example, prevents the glass from being wetted uniformly and can therefore potentially affect the volume of the liquid poured out as there could be residue sticking to the sides of the glassware. Similarly, the meniscus may be distorted if there are impurities in the labware and lead to erroneous results of the experiment. It follows that keeping the glassware absolutely clean is vital, however, that is easier said than actually done because you need to ensure that they are not only physically clean but also chemically clean.

Glass Labware Cleaning Basics

The most effective way of keeping glass labware clean is to do it immediately after using them because much of the residues will not have solidified and can be washed off easily. It is important to use detergents that are specially formulated for this purpose and not household detergents. It can also be very effective to use the solvent used in the experiment to rinse the glassware. Often this process, followed by a couple of thorough rinses with distilled water, obviates the need for using detergents and tap water. Boiling the laboratory glassware in a diluted solution of sodium carbonate or acetone is recommended for removing grease. Silicone removal can only be done by soaking the glassware for a minimum of two hours in decahydronaphthalene. If you are using your hands to wash, ensure you wear heavy duty gloves to prevent cuts and exposure to strong chemicals.

How to Wash the Glassware?

You need to soak or rinse the glassware in the acid or base wash using plastic tubs making sure that you are in a position to dispose of the wash solutions safely after washing. Soiled labware is best cleaned with hot soapy water after which, you should rinse them with tap water or distilled water. Sterilization is best done using an autoclave; the glassware thereafter can be dried by hanging on a drying rack, manually or even in an oven.

Most Effective Glassware Cleaning Agents

Traditionally, chromic acid is considered to be the most effective cleaning agent for glassware that has been clouded or contains organic material that has coagulated. Typically, sodium dichromate dihydrate is used for making chromic acid; however, as it is not eco-friendly, its use has rapidly declined in favor of other glassware cleaners that have been developed to be both eco-friendlier and more user-friendly. It is now the practice to use soaking solutions that are water-based for cleaning lab glassware as they have less toxicity and are easier to dispose of. The new generation of cleaning agents can be used at normal room temperatures or even up to boiling temperatures with proper ventilation for removal of routine grime and chemical residues commonly encountered in laboratories. To know more visit https://topairsystems.com/

Conclusion

It is very important for lab glassware to be cleaned properly to ensure the accuracy of the results of laboratory experiments. Cleaning should always be done with appropriate cleaning solutions, solvents taking care to protect you and the environment.