If you’ve been a part of the scientific community for a long time, we don’t need to tell you that there is an extensive list of precautions you must follow when handling chemicals in a lab. However, if you’re relatively new or could use some brushing up, give this article a read. We highlight key precautions you should follow when handling corrosive chemicals in the lab.
Personal Protective Equipment
Don’t try to handle chemicals in the lab without wearing the following personal protective equipment:
- Gloves: Always wear chemical-resistant gloves that can handle contact with the substances present in your lab. If you notice any discoloration in your gloves, it’s a sign that they may be losing their efficacy and need to be replaced.
- Goggles: Don’t try to handle corrosive chemicals without appropriate eye protection. Wear safety glasses or goggles with side shields when you handle chemicals, especially if there is a possibility of particles splashing or flying.
- Coat: Wear a coat, apron, or protective suit that is impervious to fire when handling chemicals in the lab. Never wear a coat without inspecting it for damages or tears. If you do find damages, dispose of them, and use a new one.
- Shoes: You don’t always need to wear shoes that are specialized to protect your feet from corrosive liquids. However, we strongly advise against wearing open-toed footwear in the lab. Instead, opt for shoes that will provide a certain degree of protection if you spill something corrosive on them.
We also advise that you thoroughly read the material safety data sheet (MSDS) before handling a specific substance. Properly follow the instructions mentioned there to ensure your personal safety around corrosive chemicals.
Ventilated Fume Hoods
A ventilated fume hood is an enclosure used to channel gasses, nanoparticles, and vapors. It is a common exhaust ventilation system used in laboratories to provide a safe space to handle hazardous chemicals.
Our experts at Questron Technologies understand that it can be pretty challenging to handle various corrosive chemicals during the experiment. So, we strive to develop application-specific sample preparation systems that are high quality and customizable. Our products can be of immense value to your laboratory. Read on to learn more about our products and how they prevent exposure to hazardous substances and keep you safe.
Automated Hot Blocks
If you’re looking for a robust and long-lasting hot block, our Automated hot block Vulcan system might be of use to you. It is capable of handling temperatures up to 400 °C and can dispense corrosive liquids as per the requirements. It can even handle post-digestion dilutions.
This system is working hood and saves the prime laboratory space. If you have a specific requirement, we will be glad to create a custom QBlock to meet your needs.
Microwave Digestor
Our QWave digestion system has an in-built temperature and pressure monitoring feature for each digestion vessel. If you’re looking for a product that is ideal for open or closed vessel microwave digestion, evaporation, extraction, and synthesis, QWave is your best choice.
All the reagent handling for Microwave digestions before and after the digestion can be handled in Automated sample Handling system, Vulcan. You can now have fast digestions without concerns for reagent handling and dilutions and save a lot of time for analyzing and understanding the results.
Automated Liquid Transfer and dilution
The QPrep Automated Workstation is the ultimate integrated solution for precise sample dilutions, transfers, and other liquid handling functions in your laboratory. Handling large number of samples can create physical fatigue and make chemists prone to mishandling of hazardous chemicals. However, automating this process can prove to be safer and more profitable for your lab.
QPrep is capable of performing multiple dilutions and provides consistent and precise reagent addition. It can also prepare calibration and QC standards and perform serial dilutions and aliquot transfers.
We work with multiple industries that require highly accurate scientific sample digestion and can help you find what you’re looking for. If you’d like to learn more about the products we offer, head over to our website.
Other Precautions
Here are other instructions to bear in mind when handling corrosive substances in your lab.
- Don’t store corrosive materials above eye level. It could lead to slips and accidents around the lab, resulting in exposure to hazardous substances.
- For the same reasons, avoid overcrowding your shelves and try to segregate incompatible substances from each other.
- Keep all your containers closed and ensure that their manufacturer’s labels are intact and legible.
- Don’t store corrosive substances near water, heat sources or oxidizers.
- Always ensure that you’re adding acids and bases to water, and not the other way around.
- If your experiment will release a lot of dust, conduct your work within a fume hood.
- For any experiment that will release hazardous gasses, ensure to work in a fume hood and wear appropriate respiratory protection.
- If you have specific skin allergies that could be aggravated when your skin comes into contact with toxic gasses, you must take extra precautions to protect yourself. In such cases, cover any bits of exposed skin before starting your experiment.
We’ve covered some of the basic precautions you must follow when working with corrosive materials in your lab. These precautions can not only ensure the safety of your lab but also your own personal safety. If you’d like to learn more about these precautions, take a look at the CDC’s guidelines for safe chemical storage.
At Questron Technologies Corp., we work directly with the industry’s leading laboratories to co-create products that solve some of your common lab concerns. Our team of chemists and mechatronic engineers strive to design the world’s most advanced automated sample digestion equipment. To learn more about our products, visit our website. If you have questions for us, feel free to call us at 1 844-363-1223 or contact us online.