Cleaning of Glassware in Laboratory SOP

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

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