Cleaning of glassware in laboratory
- SOP Covers below points:
- Glassware Cleaning Procedure
- Precautions while Cleaning of glassware
- Preparation of cleaning solutions
- Cleaning of Pipettes
- Cleaning of Burettes
- Cleaning of Vials
- Cleaning of New glassware
- Cleaning of Greasy glassware
- Cleaning of Glassware with adhering precipitate
- Cleaning of Other glasswares
1.0 OBJECTIVE :
- To provide a procedure for Cleaning of Glassware in Laboratory.
2.0 SCOPE :
- This procedure is applicable to Cleaning of Laboratory Glassware used for analysis in Quality Control Department.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY :
- Quality Control Chemist and above
4.0 ACCOUNTABILITY:
- Quality Control Head
5.0 PROCEDURE :
5.1 PRECAUTIONS
- Keep the laboratory clean and tidy at all time.
- Wear the suitable protecting appliance for the cleaning and drying of used glasswares.
- Dispose off any of the remaining corrosive or hazardous material used in the analysis, before giving the glassware for washing.
- Discard the content from glass bowl of dissolution test apparatus before giving for washing.
- Take necessary care during washing to avoid breakage of glassware.
- Wipe outer surface of glassware with tissue paper dipped in IPA / Acetone to remove any previous information written on glassware.
- Check whether all stains are removed or not. If not, repeat the operation twice to ensure cleaning.
- Keep the washed glassware on the racks provided in the hot air oven at 50°C-60°C till complete drying.
- Every day morning discard the cleaning solution of previous day and prepare new cleaning solution for use.
5.2 PREPARATION OF CLEANING SOLUTIONS
- Prepare cleaning solution daily at the start of work shift or as when required by following procedure :
- 2 % liquid soap solution: Dilute 20 ml of Teepol in 1000 ml water.
- 1 % hydrochloric acid solution: Dilute 1 ml of hydrochloric acid (AR grade) in 100 ml water.
- 5 % w/v Sodium carbonate solution: Dissolve 5.0 gm of sodium carbonate (LR Grade) in 100 ml water.
- Dilute nitric acid solution: Dilute 10.6 ml of nitric acid in 100 ml water.
5.3 PIPETTES
- Soak pipettes after use in a tub containing 2 % liquid soap solution for 2 hours.
- Wash with tap water and finally rinse with distilled water and store in the designated place in inverted position.
5.4 BURETTES
- Remove the stop cork from burette and soak the burette in a tub containing 2 % liquid soap solution for 2 hours.
- Wash with tap water and finally rinse with distilled and store in the designated place in inverted position.
- Apply thin layer of metroark grease to stopcock.
5.5 VIALS
- Open and empty out the used vials one by one, wash the vials with plenty of water.
- Dip all the vials in 2% liquid soap solution in a beaker.
- Rinse all the vials one by one in running water until soap free.
- Rinse the vials with purified water and then transfer these vials in beaker containing methanol/acetonitrile.
- Sonicate the vials with septa for 15 minutes and finally rinse with purified water.
- Keep these vials in another clean beaker and place the beaker in a drying oven at about 50ºC.
- After 2-3 hours take out the beaker with dried vials from drying oven and place these vials at its designated place.
5.6 NEW GLASSWARE
- Most new glassware is slightly alkaline in reaction.
- Soak the new glassware in 1% hydrochloric acid solution for 5 to 6 hours before washing.
- Wash with tap water and finally rinse with distilled water.
- Dry the washed glassware into a hot oven at 50°C – 60°C till complete drying.
- After drying remove the dry glassware and keep at its designated place.
5.7 GREASY GLASSWARE
- Wash it by rinsing 3 to 4 times with solvent in which the material is soluble.
- Treat with 5% w/v sodium carbonate solution, or a few ml of acetone.
- Wash with tap water and finally rinse with distilled water.
- Dry the washed glassware into a hot oven at 50°C – 60°C till complete drying.
- After drying remove the dry glassware and keep at its designated place.
5.8 GLASSWARE WITH ADHERING PRECIPITATE
- Rinse the glassware carefully with dilute nitric acid solution.
- Wash with tap water and finally rinse with distilled water.
- Dry the washed glassware into a hot oven at 50°C – 60°C till complete drying.
- After drying remove the dry glassware and keep at its designated place.
5.9 OTHER GLASSWARES
- Drain the solution of glassware in sink and flush the water.
- Soak the empty, used glassware in a tub containing 2 % liquid soap solution.
- Brush each item thoroughly to remove any stains or grease.
- Wash with tap water.
- Rinse the glassware with distilled water.
- Drain the water from the washed glass ware, apply thin layer of metroark grease to joints and then dry in an oven (at about 50°C-60°C for 1 hour) or overnight in air and store in the designated place.
6.0 ABBREVIATIONS:
| Abbreviation | Expanded form |
| % | Percentage |
| v/v | Volume per volume |
| °C | Degree Celsius |
| w/v | Weight per volume |
| LR | Laboratory reagent |
| AR | Analytical reagent |
7.0 ANNEXURES:
Nil
8.0 SOP REFERENCES
In-House
END OF THE SOP