CO N T E N T S
PYREX VISTA glassware offers a Corning Disposable Glass When it comes to use at very PYREXPLUS® glassware has a
full range of economical products Coverslips offer ultra-flat glass high temperatures, VYCOR® tough plastic coating on the
from beakers to pipets and is in several thicknesses to give glassware outperforms all outside and PYREX glass on the
easily recognized by its blue grad- optimal viewing with high- other glass formulations. inside for increased safety and
uations and novel marking spot. powered microscope objectives. reduced breakage.
1
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
2
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
S U G G E ST I O N S F O R S A F E U S E O F
P Y R E X ® G L A S SWA R E
PYREX glassware has proven itself to be tough and reliable
during over 90 years of demanding use in the laboratory envi-
ronment. The PYREX name is associated with high quality,
corrosion and thermally resistant laboratory glassware
throughout the world.
Corning® products are designed and produced with safety in
mind, but it’s very important to remember that most glassware
products are designed for specific applications. Be sure you
have the right piece of glassware for the use you have in mind.
Using laboratory glassware for applications other than those it
was designed for can be dangerous.
Lab safety is one of the most critical concerns of any lab. To
help improve lab safety, Corning has compiled these common
sense suggestions concerning the safe use of glass and plastic
labware.
3
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
Rotate test tubes to avoid overheating one particular area. ◗ Never autoclave items containing corrosives (e.g. acids, bases,
Uniform heating may be critical to your experiment. and phenol), solvents or volatiles (e.g. ethanol, methanol,
chloroform) or radioactive materials.
Heat all liquids slowly. Fast heating may cause bumping,
◗ Use only borosilicate glassware, such as PYREX glass, which
which in turn may cause the solution to splatter.
can better withstand the stresses of autoclave temperatures
Hot Plates and pressures.
There are several types of hot plates. Some are heated elec- ◗ Load the autoclave properly as per the manufacturer’s
trically, some are water-heated. They may have a ceramic or recommendations.
metal top. You should consult your hot plate product manual ◗ Individual glassware pieces should be placed within a heat
before using a hot plate for the first time. resistant plastic or metal tray on a shelf or rack and never
On hot plates the entire top surface heats and then remains placed directly on the autoclave bottom or floor.
warm for some time after you have turned the hot plate off. ◗ Check any plastic caps, tubing or other items to ensure they
Be careful with any hot plate that has recently been used. can be safely autoclaved with the glassware.
◗ Add 1/4 to 1/2 inch of water to the tray so the glassware will
heat more evenly.
4
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
◗ Fill glassware only half full with liquids to be sterilized. Take Two types of lubricant are commonly used on standard taper
into account the volume of liquid to be autoclaved. A 2L joints:
flask containing 1L of liquid takes much longer to sterilize (a) Hydrocarbon stopcock grease is the most widely used.
than four 500 mL flasks each containing 250 mL of liquid. It can be easily removed by most laboratory solvents,
◗ Do a test run when autoclaving larger volumes of liquid to including acetone.
make sure the liquid has reached 121ºC. Suspend an auto- (b) Because hydrocarbon grease is so easily removable, silicone
clave thermometer (with a thin wire) in the middle of the stopcock grease is often preferred for higher temperature or
liquid filled container to record the highest temperature high vacuum applications. It can be removed readily using
reached. Then check its reading after the autoclave run is chlorinated solvents.
finished, if the temperature is too low then the run time will
need to be increased or the volume will need to be reduced. Corning offers three types of stopcocks:
◗ Large heavy glassware, such as 3L or larger spinner flasks PYREX® All Glass Stopcocks
and 5L or larger bottles and carboys, should have a small General purpose PYREX glass stopcocks with symbol are
amount of distilled water placed inside them to help generate manufactured with 1:10 tapers and finishes as specified in
steam when they are being sterilized empty in an autoclave. ASTM E-675. They feature interchangeable solid glass plugs.
◗ To prevent bottles from shattering during pressurization, the They can function safely at vacuums down to 10-4 torr (mm
caps of containers with liquids must be fully loosened before of mercury) with minimal leakage.
loading. Always use the slow exhaust or liquid cool cycle after
autoclaving liquids to prevent liquid boil over which can
result in loss of contents.
◗ Never autoclave a sealed container of liquids as this may
result in an explosion of super-heated liquid during the cycle
or when the container is opened.
◗ Wear heat-resistant gloves when opening the autoclave door
after a cycle. At a minimum, when removing items from an
autoclave, a rubber apron, rubber sleeve protectors and heat-
resistant gloves should be worn.
◗ Wait 5 minutes before removing dry glassware from the auto-
clave, and wait 10 to 20 minutes for glassware containing liq-
uids. The larger the volume of liquid the longer you should PYREX all-glass stopcocks should Rotaflo® in-line stopcock can be
wait. Liquids removed too soon may boil and overflow the be lubricated to prevent sticking. used at vacuums down to 10-8 torr
vessel, burning the operator. and require no lubrication.
5
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
If a ground joint sticks, the following procedure will generally Do not use round PYREX® glass screw cap storage bottles larger
free it. Immerse the joint in a glass container of freshly poured than 2L with bottle top vacuum filters or for any other vacuum
carbonated liquid (soda). You will be able to see the liquid pen- applications. Never use square glass or plastic storage bottles of
etrate between the ground surfaces. When the surfaces are wet any size with bottle top vacuum filters or for any other vacuum
(allow 5 to 10 minutes submersion) remove the joint and rinse applications. Never use any bottle under positive pressure.
with tap water. Wipe away excess water. Then gently warm the Never use an Erlenmeyer flask under vacuum as a filtering
wall of the outer joint by rotating it for 15 to 20 seconds over flask. Filtering flasks are manufactured with extra thick walls to
a low Bunsen burner flame. (Be sure that 50% of the inner withstand vacuum applications. Corning recommends using
surface is wet before inserting the joint in the flame.) Remove PYREXPLUS® coated filtering flasks for an extra margin of
from the flame and, taking care to protect your hands and fin- safety.
gers, gently twist the two members apart. If they do not come
apart, repeat the procedure. Never use force separating joints Not all PYREX desiccators are designed for vacuum applica-
by this method. tions. Vacuum rated desiccators are only rated to one atmos-
phere of vacuum. Never heat a vacuum desiccator. Never carry
Do not store alkaline solutions in glass stoppered bottles and or move a desiccator while it is under vacuum.
flasks; they may stick.
Because of variations in conditions, Corning cannot guarantee any
We recommend applying a light coat of stopcock or other glassware against breakage under vacuum or pressure. Adequate
grease completely around the upper part of the joint. Use only precautions should be taken to protect personnel doing such work.
a small amount and avoid greasing that part of the joint which
contacts the inner part of the apparatus. Table 5. Selecting Rubber Stoppers (All measurements are in mm)
Three types of lubricant are commonly used on standard taper Diameter Fits openings with
Stopper
joints: Size (U.S.) Top Bottom Length O. D. I. D.
(a) Hydrocarbon grease is the most widely used. It can be easily 000 12.7 8.2 21 10 to 12 8.2 to 10
removed by most laboratory solvents, including acetone. 00 15 10 25 12 to 15 10 to 13
(b) Because hydrocarbon grease is so easily removable, silicone 0 17 13 25 16 to 18 13 to 15
grease is often preferred for higher temperature or high 1 19 14 25 19 to 20 15 to 17
vacuum applications. It can be removed readily with
2 20 16 25 20 to 21 16 to 18.5
chlorinated solvents.
3 24 18 25 22 to 24 18 to 21
(c) For long-term reflux or extraction reactions, a water-soluble,
organic-insoluble grease, such as glycerin, is suitable. Water 4 26 20 25 25 to 26 20 to 23
will wash off glycerin. 5 27 23 25 27 to 28 23 to 25
5½ 28 24 25 28 to 29 25 to 26
Using Rubber Stoppers 6 32 26 25 29 to 30 26 to 27
Always try to use rubber stoppers that fit approximately halfway 6½ 34 27 25 30 to 34 27 to 31.5
into the vessel opening being sealed (Table 5).
7 37 30 25 35 to 38 30 to 34
Wet both tubing and stopper with glycerin or water when 8 41 33 25 38 to 41 33 to 37
trying to insert glass tubing into a rubber stopper or flexible 9 45 37 25 41 to 45 37 to 41
plastic tubing. Caution: ALWAYS protect hands with a towel
or leather gloves when cutting or inserting glass tubing. Hold 10 50 42 25 45 to 50 42 to 46
elbows close to the body to limit movement when handling 10½ 53 45 25 48 to 51 45 to 47
tubing. Always pull rather than push on the glass tubing when 11 56 48 25 52 to 56 48 to 51.5
possible. 11½ 63 50 25 57 to 61 51 to 56
Fire polish rough ends of glass tubing before inserting into 12 64 54 25 62 to 64 54 to 59
flexible tubing or through a stopper. If it becomes impossible 13 68 58 25 64 to 68 58 to 63
to remove a thermometer from a rubber stopper, it is best 14 90 75 39 80 to 90 75 to 85
to cut away the stopper rather than to risk breaking the
15 103 83 39 92 to 100 83 to 95
thermometer.
Vacuum Applications
All glass containers used in vacuum work or which are under S U G G E ST I O N S F O R S A F E U S E O F
vacuum must be securely and adequately taped or shielded P Y R E X P L U S G L A S SWA R E
to restrain flying glass in the event of an implosion or other
PYREXPLUS glassware is coated with a tough, transparent
accident. Always wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield.
plastic vinyl. The coating, which is applied to the outside of
Never use glassware that is etched, cracked, chipped, nicked, or the vessel, helps prevent exterior surface abrasion. It also helps
scratched. It is more prone to break, especially under vacuum minimize the loss of contents and helps contain glass fragments
applications or if heated. Never use glass containers for vacuum if the glass vessel is broken.
applications that have been repaired.
6
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
7
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
Should the coating appear clouded due to dissolved moisture, Maximum Pore Diameter and Permeability of Rigid Porous Filters
simply let dry overnight at room temperature or briefly heat to for Laboratory Use. Also, where the size of the piece permits, it is
110°C (230°F). marked with the ASTM designation followed by the pore range
as shown in the column Nominal Maximum Pore Size.
Labeling and Marking The “whiteness” of various fritted products may vary slightly
Use water-based markers for temporary marking or labeling of from piece to piece due to minor color variations in the batch
the PYREXPLUS® glassware coating. Solvent-based markers, mix. This color variation does not affect product filtration
dyes and stains cannot be removed from the coating. performance nor is it frit contamination.
Note: A slight “plastic” odor may be detected when handling
PYREXPLUS glassware. This is due to additives in the plastic Proper Care of Fritted Glassware
coating which are responsible for its superior performance. Cleaning
The odor is normal and will not affect the inertness of the
A new fritted filter should be washed by suction with hot
inside borosilicate glass surface.
hydrochloric acid and then rinsed with water before it is used.
This treatment will remove loose particles of foreign matter
S U G G E ST I O N S F O R S A F E U S E O F such as dust. It is advisable to clean all PYREX fritted filters as
soon as possible after use. This will prolong their life.
F R I T T E D G L A S SWA R E
Many precipitates can be removed from the filter surface sim-
Corning’s line of fritted ply by rinsing from the reverse side with water under pressure
PYREX® glassware encom- not exceeding 15 lb/sq. in. Drawing water through the filter
passes numerous applications from the reverse side with a vacuum pump is also effective.
including vacuum filters, Some precipitates tend to clog the pores of a fritted filter
thimbles for Soxhlet solvent and may require special cleaning solutions (Table 8).
extraction, and Gooch cru-
cibles and Buchner funnels Table 8. Recommended Cleaning Solutions for
for collecting precipitates. PYREX Fritted Glassware
Fritted gas washing bottles Material Cleaning Solution
are used to saturate a liquid Fatty materials Carbon tetrachloride
with a specific gas but can
Organic matter Hot concentrated cleaning solution, or hot
also be used to saturate the Gas washing bottles with fritted concentrated sulfuric acid plus a few drops
CO2 gas mixtures with water discs are a very effective way of sodium or potassium nitrite.
to better maintain high humi- to humidify carbon dioxide-air
Albumen Hot ammonia or hot hydrochloric acid
dity levels in cell culture mixtures for maintaining high
incubators humidity in gassed cell culture Glucose Hot mixed acid; H2SO4 + HNO3)
incubators. Copper or Hot hydrochloric acid plus potassium
Selecting Fritted Glassware Iron Oxides chlorate
There are five different porosities of PYREX fritted glassware Mercury Residue Hot nitric acid
so that precipitates varying in size can be filtered at maximum Silver Chloride Ammonia or sodium hyposulfite
speed with no sacrifice of retention. Porosity is controlled in Viscose 5-10% NaOH, followed by cleaning solution
manufacture and discs are individually tested and graded into Aluminous and 2% hydrofluoric acid followed by concen-
these classifications. The extra coarse and coarse porosities are Siliceous Residues trated sulfuric acid; rinse immediately with
held toward the maximum pore diameter as listed. The medium distilled water followed by a few mL of
and fine are held toward the minimum pore diameter as listed acetone. Repeat rinsing until all traces of
(Table 7). The porosity for the pore diameter of the filter is acid are removed.
determined in the same manner as specified in ASTM E-128,
8
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
Operating Pressures
Fritted glassware is designed primarily for vacuum filtration
or for gas flow at relatively low pressures. If used for pressure
work, the MAXIMUM differential on the disc should not
exceed 15 pounds per square inch. Care should be taken when
preparing sample solutions to avoid trapping air. If dissolved
air is present, the flow rate may be reduced by up to 50%.
Thermal Limitations
The resistance to thermal shock of fritted glassware is less than
that of solid PYREX® glassware. Therefore, fritted glassware
should not be subjected to excessive temperature changes or to Corning® 5646 series VERIFIED Each flask is labeled with
direct flame. Dry fritted crucibles at room temperature may be volumetric flasks are guaranteed "VERIFIED" and a lot number.
placed into a drying oven operating at 150°C. Fritted glassware to meet Class A volumetric toler- With this information you can
ances on every single flask. access a Certificate of Analysis
may be safely heated in a furnace to 500°C without ill effect,
with lot specific data regarding
provided that the cycle of heating and cooling is gradual. both measurements and methods.
9
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
tion line is horizontally tangent to the plane of the upper edge ware include Alconox®, Liquinox®, Lux®, Tide® and Fab®.
of the graduation line. The position of the meniscus is obtained The water should be hot. For glassware that is exceptionally
by having the eye in the same plane of the upper edge of the dirty, a cleaning powder with a very mild abrasive action, such
graduation line.” as BonAmi®, will give more satisfactory results. The abrasive
should not scratch the glass.
During the washing, all parts of the glassware should be thor-
S U G G E ST I O N S F O R C L E A N I N G A N D oughly scrubbed with a brush. This means that a full set of
STO R I N G G L A S S WA R E brushes should be available: brushes to fit large and small test
Good laboratory technique tubes, burets, funnels, graduates and various sizes of flasks and
demands clean glassware, bottles. Brushes with wooden or plastic handles are recom-
because the most carefully mended as they will not scratch or abrade the glass surface.
executed piece of work may Motor driven revolving brushes are valuable when a large
give an erroneous result if number of tubes or bottles are processed. Do not use cleaning
dirty glassware is used. In all brushes that are so worn that the brush spine hits the glass.
instances, glassware must be Serious scratches may result. Scratched glass is more prone to
physically clean; it must be break during experiments. Any mark in the uniform surface
chemically clean; and in many of glassware is a potential breaking point, especially when the
cases, it must be sterile. All piece is heated or used in vacuum applications. Do not allow
glassware must be absolutely acid to come into contact with a piece of glassware before the
grease-free. The safest criteri- Clean glassware is critical for both
detergent (or soap) is thoroughly removed. If this happens, a
on of cleanliness is uniform chemical and biological applica- film of grease may be formed.
wetting of the surface by dis- tions, although the criteria for
cleanliness may be different. Other Cleaning Methods
tilled water. This is especially
important in glassware used Caution! The following methods can cause serious damage to
for measuring the volume of liquids. Grease and other contam- the eyes, mucus membranes, skin and lungs and should only
inating materials will prevent the glass from becoming uniformly be undertaken by people trained in their proper use and fully
wetted. This in turn will alter the volume of residue adhering to equipped with heavy duty slip resistant and chemically resistant
the walls of the glass container and thus affect the volume of gloves, eye protection, lab coat, apron and, when appropriate,
liquid measured or delivered. Furthermore, in pipets and burets, a fume hood.
the meniscus will be distorted and the correct adjustments can- If glassware becomes unduly clouded or dirty or contains coag-
not be made. The presence of small amounts of impurities may ulated organic matter, it must be cleansed with more aggressive
also alter the meniscus. and potentially dangerous cleaning solutions often using con-
centrated acids or bases. Special types of precipitates may
Safety Considerations require removal with nitric acid, aqua regia or fuming sulfuric
Eye protection and heavy duty slip-resistant and chemically resist- acid. These are very corrosive substances and should be used
ant gloves should be used when washing glassware. Depending only when required. Chromic acid, commercially available as
on the detergents and cleaning solutions being used an apron Chromerge®, dissolved in concentrated sulfuring acid is also
and fume hood may also be required. Always check with your a very powerful cleaner. However, the use of Chromerge or
Safety Office before using caustic washing solutions. other chromate-based cleaning solutions is not recommended
in many research laboratories because the chromium ions are
Cleaning PYREX® Glassware highly toxic to the environment and pose a severe waste dispos-
Wash glassware as quickly as possible after use. The longer it is al problem, even in small quantities. In addition, the chromium
left unwashed the harder it will be to clean. If a thorough clean- present in Chromerge is considered to be a potent human car-
ing is not possible immediately, disassemble the glassware and cinogen. A safer alternative is the use of NoChromix, contain-
put it to soak in water. This is especially important for ground ing hydrogen peroxide, which is also made up in sulfuric acid.
glass stopcocks and stoppers. If glassware is not cleaned imme- While still very caustic, it does not contain any toxic chromium.
diately, it may become impossible to remove the residue. Do Please follow the manufacturer’s direction for use of this product.
not overload sinks, dishwashers, or soaking bins. Rubber sink When NoChromix solution is used the glassware may be rinsed
and counter mats can help reduce the chance of breakage and with the cleaning solution or it may be filled with it and allowed
resultant injury. to stand. The length of time it is allowed to stand depends on
Most new glassware is slightly alkaline in reaction. For pre- the amount of contamination on the glassware. Relatively clean
cision chemical tests, new glassware should be soaked several glassware may require only a few minutes of exposure; if debris
hours in acid water (a 1% solution of hydrochloric or nitric is present, such as blood clots, it may be necessary to let the
acid) before washing. glassware stand all night. Due to the intense corrosive action of
the NoChromix solution, it is good practice to place the stock
Glassware Cleaners bottle, as well as the glassware being treated, in flat glass pans
When washing glassware, soap, detergent, or cleaning powder or pans made from plastic polymer determined to be compatible
(with or without an abrasive) may be used. Cleaners for glass- with the concentration of NoChromix you are using. Extra care
10
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
must be taken to be sure all caustic cleaning solutions are hose. Polyethylene baskets and jars may be used for soaking
disposed of properly. and rinsing pipets in chromic acid cleaning solution.
Electrically heated metallic pipet driers are also available.
Removing Grease
After drying, place chemical pipets in a dust-free drawer. Wrap
Grease is best removed by boiling in a weak solution of sodium
serologic and bacteriologic pipets in paper or place in pipet
carbonate. Acetone or any other fat solvent may be used.
cans and sterilize in the dry air sterilizer at 180°C for 2 hours.
Strong alkalis should not be used. Silicone grease is most easily
Pipets used for transferring infectious material should have a
removed by soaking the stopcock plug or barrel for 2 hours in
plug of cotton placed in the top end of the pipet before steriliz-
warm decahydronaphthalene. Grease can also be removed from
ing. This plug of cotton will prevent the material being meas-
ground joints by wiping with a paper towel soaked in acetone
ured from being drawn accidentally into the pipetting device.
or other appropriate solvent. Use a fume hood to minimize
Corning also offers a full line of sterile, ready to use disposable
exposure to the fumes.
glass and plastic pipets to eliminate the need for cleaning and
Drain and rinse degreased glassware with acetone or use fuming sterilizing.
sulfuric acid for 30 minutes. Be sure to rinse off all of the
cleaning agents. Cleaning Burets
Remove the stopcock or rubber tip and wash the buret with
Rinsing detergent and water. Rinse with tap water until all the dirt is
It is imperative that all soap, detergents and other cleaning removed. Then rinse with distilled water and dry.
fluids be removed from glassware before use. This is especially
Wash the stopcock or rubber tip separately. Before a glass stop-
important with the detergents, slight traces of which will inter-
cock is placed in the buret, lubricate the joint with stopcock
fere with serologic and cell culture applications.
lubricant. Use only a small amount of lubricant.
After cleaning, rinse the glassware with running tap water.
Burets should always be covered when not in use.
When test tubes, graduates, flasks and similar containers are
rinsed with tap water, allow the water to run into and over Cleaning Fritted Ware
them for a short time, then partly fill each piece with water, A new fritted filter should be washed by suction with hot
thoroughly shake and empty at least six times. Pipets and hydrochloric acid and then rinsed with water before it is used.
burets are best rinsed by attaching a piece of rubber tubing to This treatment will remove loose particles of foreign matter
the faucet and then attaching the delivery end of the pipets or such as dust. It is advisable to clean all PYREX® fritted filters
burets to a hose, allowing the water to run through them. If as soon as possible after use. This will prolong their life.
the tap water is very hard, it is best to run it through a deion-
izer or reverse osmosis system before using. Many precipitates can be removed from the filter surface sim-
ply by rinsing from the reverse side with water under pressure
Next rinse the glassware in a large bath of high purity or dis- not exceeding 15 lb/sq. in. Drawing water through the filter
tilled water. Then do a final individual rinse of each item with from the reverse side with a vacuum pump is also effective.
high purity water. To conserve water, use a five gallon bottle Some precipitates tend to clog the pores of a fritted filter and
as a reservoir. Store it on a shelf near your clean-up area. may require special cleaning solutions (Table 9).
Cleaning Pipets Table 9. Recommended Cleaning Solutions for PYREX® Fritted
Place pipets, tips down, in a cylinder or tall jar of water imme- Glassware
diately after use. Do not drop them into the jar, since this may Material Cleaning Solution
break or chip the tips and render the pipets useless for accurate
measurements. A pad of cotton or glass wool at the bottom of Fatty materials Carbon tetrachloride
the jar will help to prevent breaking of the tips. Be certain that Organic matter Hot concentrated cleaning solution, or hot
the water level is high enough to immerse the greater portion concentrated sulfuric acid plus a few drops
of sodium or potassium nitrite.
or all of each pipet. At a convenient time, the pipets may then
be drained and placed in a cylinder or jar of dissolved deter- Albumen Hot ammonia or hot hydrochloric acid.
gent or, if exceptionally dirty, in a jar of chromic acid cleaning Glucose Hot mixed acid; H2SO4 + HNO3).
solution. After soaking for several hours, or overnight, drain Copper, or Hot hydrochloric acid plus potassium Iron
the pipets and run tap water over and through them until all Oxides chlorate.
traces of dirt are removed. Soak the pipets in distilled water Mercury Residue Hot nitric acid.
for at least 1 hour. Remove from the distilled water, rinse, dry Silver Chloride Ammonia or sodium hyposulfite.
the outside with a cloth, shake the water out and dry.
Viscose 5-10% NaOH, followed by cleaning
In laboratories where a large number of pipets are used daily, solution.
it is convenient to use an automatic pipet washer. Some of Aluminous and 2% hydrofluoric acid followed by concen-
these, made of metal, are quite elaborate and can be connected Siliceous Residues trated sulfuric acid; rinse immediately with
directly by permanent fixtures to the hot and cold water sup- distilled water followed by a few milliliters
plies. Others, such as those made with polyethylene, are less of acetone. Repeat rinsing until all traces
elaborate and can be attached to the water supplies by a rubber of acid are removed.
11
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
12
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
particles may require loosening with a horse hair or piece of Chip: An imperfection due to breakage of a small fragment
fine wire. Take care not to scratch the inside of the pipet. from an otherwise regular surface.
Culture Tubes Cord: An unattenuated glassy inclusion, possessing optical and
other properties differing from those of the surrounding glass.
Culture tubes which have been used previously must be steril-
ized before cleaning. The best general method for sterilization Cullet: Waste or broken glass, usually suitable as an addition
cultures is by autoclaving for 30 minutes at 121°C (15 lb. pres- to raw batch.
sure). Media which solidify on cooling should be poured out Devitrification: Crystallization in glass.
while the tubes are hot. After the tubes are emptied, brush
with detergent and water, rinse thoroughly with tap water, Dice: The more or less cubical fracture of tempered glass.
rinse with distilled water, place in a basket and dry. Fiber: An individual filament made by attenuating molten
If tubes are to be filled with a medium which is sterilized by glass. A continuous filament is a glass fiber of great or indefi-
autoclaving, do not plug until the medium is added. Both nite length. A staple fiber is a glass fiber of relatively short
medium and tubes are thus sterilized with one autoclaving. length (generally less than 44 cm).
If the tubes are to be filled with a sterile medium, plug and Fusion: Joining by heating.
sterilize the tubes in the autoclave or dry air sterilizer before Glass Ceramic: A material melted and formed as a glass,
adding the medium. Corning also offers a variety of disposable then converted largely to a crystalline form by processes of
glass and plastic culture tubes to eliminate the need for cleaning. controlled devitrification.
13
Care and Safe Handling of Laboratory Glassware
RG-CI-101-Rev1
Corning Incorporated Worldwide India Taiwan United Kingdom
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© 2008 Corning Incorporated Printed in U.S.A. 8/08
Corning, PYREX, PYREXPLUS, PYROCERAM, and VYCOR are registered trademarks of Corning Incorporated, Corning, New York 14831.
VISTA is a trademark of Corning Incorporated, Corning, New York 14831
All other trademarks in this document are the property of their respective owners.
Corning Incorporated, One Riverfront Plaza, Corning, NY 14831-0001