AMMRLers:
I will give you a summary of 3mm tube cleaning and drying advice, I obtained that was useful.
I pointed out that I did want something that was somewhat cost efficient
and yet did a good job.
Cleaning:
The website that was suggested: http://www.wilmad-labglass.com/services/NMR_010.jsp
was quite helpful in cleaning techniques.
I like this quote" For stubborn stains I've yet to find anything resist piranha
(H2O2 in H2SO4, both conc'n) for more than a minute."
Products:
Wilmad supplies a Universal Solvent Jet Washer for individual tubes, from
2.5 to 5 mm (WG-7200), but no multiple tube washing device.
New ERA supplies a single tube washer (NE-230-3) and a multiple tube- 5
tubes (NE-232-3).
Kimble Kontes also supplies the multiple tube washer (897033-003).
There are designs of dishwashers with NMR tube adapters from various NMR
suppliers and engineers but they were quite costly (>10k) for our need
right now.
Drying:
I put the tubes opening down on tissue paper (Kimwipes) in a big vacuum
ehrlenmeyer and leave
them under vacuum overnight or as long as it takes (depends on the room
temperature).
Wm. R. Kearney, Ph.D. supplied a diagram/sketch of a drying device, must ask him for a copy.
Dry with stream of N2. Filtered house N2 through a pipette with cotton to catch any reside grease in the lines.
Do not dry tube in a oven over 90C in a beaker as they will warp, dry on
flat surface at lower temperature if necessary, try vacuum oven at room
temperature.
Someone was quoted" I've heard warnings that banana tubes are generated by baking at even
modest temperatures, but that contradicts my glassblowing experience. (I
suspect it was a warning that got exaggerated from student to student;
though I would welcome being corrected if that is heresy). Destructive
testing of a tube at consecutively higher temperatures would be a welcome
AMMRL or new TAMU comment."
AS FOR 1.5 mm or smaller tubes, there really weren't any advice as most
people sealed there tubes and did not recycle.
Thank you, to all who responded.
If you have any more suggestions, pass them along to others as I got quite a few interested AMMRLers would
wanted feedback as well.
I was looking for something that would not take a lot of time (man-hours)
and money.
I am going to try a few suggestions and hope I find a method that I am
comfortable with.
P.S> I can not pass along may non-recyclable tubes as that would require me cleaning confidential material out of them and we go through a lot in a
day.
Kimberly Yach
NMR Spectroscopist
Physical Chemistry Division
Abbott Bioresearch Center
Worcester MA
Tel :(508) 849-2520
Fax: (508) 688-8100
e-mail: kimberly.yach_at_abbott.com
Received on Fri Mar 05 2004 - 11:14:20 MST