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