From: Kimberly Bush <kimibush**At_Symbol_Here**ehrs.upenn.edu>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Rotovaps and ventilation
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:29:27 +0000
Reply-To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU>
Message-ID: B4B6538F0A43D942A1222900CC58119ADABFB8EA**At_Symbol_Here**exch-mbx02.exchange.upenn.edu
In-Reply-To


Since your subject line says "ventilation" and not "shielding", that is the only part of the inquiry I'll address here . . .
 
We require rotovap pump exhaust to be vented into a fumehood or point exhaust (this is often accomplished by running a tube into the back of the hood from a rotovap located on the open bench).  Preferably, the line will have at least 1 cold trap between the main condenser and the pump and the pump will have an oil-mist separator if it is an oil pump.  If the list of solvents to be evaporated is very well defined and only higher-boiling solvents with little exposure hazard will be evaporated, then you may be able to justify not venting the vacuum to an exhaust.
 
The other issue, of course, is that the opening of a flask must be--well--open for it to be attached to the bump flask on the rotovap.  That means that an open flask of solvent might be transported from the hood to the rotovap on the bench, and similarly, the condenser flask full of condensed solvent will very likely be transported through the lab without a cap in order to empty it into a waste container.  We haven't tried to fight that battle yet though . . . ..
 
Kimi Bush
Lab Safety Specialist
Environmental Health and Radiation Safety
University of Pennsylvania
3160 Chestnut St., Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6287
Office: 215-746-6549
Voice/cell/text:  215-651-0557
fax: 215-898-0140
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**med.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Stuart, Ralph
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 9:16 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Rotovaps and ventilation
 
Random question for the morning:
What factors determine whether a rotovap should be used in a hood or not?
 
Thanks for any feedback on this.
 
- Ralph
 
Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Chemical Hygiene Officer
Keene State College
 
ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu
 

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