Cleaning Practices for Laboratory Plastic ware

实验室洁具应该在使用之前没有污染。受污染的物品可以显着贡献分析错误。的方面cleaning of laboratory glasswarehave been discussed in an earlier article. In recent years plastic ware has gained marked presence in laboratories and because of basic differences from glassware it requires a different set of practices for cleaning. The cleaning practices adopted will depend on the analysis requirements and also thetype of plastic material.

今天的文章根据分析要求以及物品制造的材料提出了关于清洁实践的建议。

General Recommendations

Plastic ware should not be treated with strong acids or heated on naked flames or hot plates for cleaning. It is possible to microwave the vessel but the vessel should be filled with microwave absorbing material such as water before putting inside the microwave oven. In case sterilization is necessary consult the material properties chart to ensure if the material can be autoclaved.

Majority of plastic ware items can be cleaned using warm water and a mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners, hard brushes or scouring pads which can lead to scratches on surfaces. It is sufficient to use a mild alkaline detergent. Strong alkaline cleaning agents should not be used on polystyrene and polycarbonate products. In case an automatic washing machine is used do not exceed wash temperature beyond 60 deg C otherwise accuracy of volumetric plasticware can get affected. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be used but the item(s) to be cleaned should not rest on the bottom of the tank. Use of a cleaning basket is recommended.

推荐的不同污染物的清洁实践

The cleaning practices to be adopted depend on the requirements of the analysis, that is, on the nature of residues on the plastic items.

Trace Metal Cleaning

It is well-known fact that plastic gets less contaminated than glass on contact with sample solutions. Soak the plastic ware in 1:1 hydrochloric acid for around 3 hours followed by soaking in 1:1 nitric acid bath for similar time interval. Remove and rinse it with de-ionized water. If found necessary, for greater contamination, soaking period can be extended for longer periods, say 8 to 10 hours.

Organic Matter

通过将二色素溶解在水中并加入硫酸加入硫酸制备的铬酸溶液可用于浸泡塑料制品以除去有机物质。只有在短时间内浸泡约4小时，因为较长的浸泡可以刺激塑料材料。溶液可以重复使用，直到它失去其清洁功率并达到绿色的Colour。在重用之前，可以在重用之前用痕量的有机物水平的有机物，可以用有机溶剂如醇或氯仿在最后冲洗用去离子水中冲洗物品。

Oils and Grease

Washing of laboratory plastic ware with mild non-alkaline detergent generally serves to remove oil and grease. Soak in detergent water (5 – 20 % concentration) for about 3 to 4 hours, wash gently with tap water followed by deionized water. Avoid use of brushes, scouring pads or any other abrasive cleaners.

在可以使用更严格的清洁变得更加严格的清洁的情况下，可以使用它们使用的用聚碳酸酯，聚苯乙烯或LDPE制备的物品来避免它们的使用。

一些像微吸移电器尖端和由塑料材料制成的样品管一样的一些塑料物品是一次性的。然而，作为一个负责任的化学家，如果这些物品已用于处理危险的微生物材料，则应在处理之前高压灭菌这些物品。在其他情况下，这种物品的意味着重用它们的清洁应该在重用之前验证。