I asked the safety coordinator for our largest Chem research group, & his answer is: Flash chromatography is best done in a fume hood because of potential exposure to solvent vapors if done outside of a fume hood. We do use "house air" but the spigot is not opened all the way. Just enough to get the air flowing to the column. Flash chromatography column should be wrapped with tape just in case of breakage due to stress on glass or air pressure. To control the air flow, we use a flow control adapter for chromatography that is available from chemglass (Catalog # is CG-1195) which enable the control of air flow and thus prevents column breakage due to excess air pressure. If the control valve is use properly, column breakage is rare. The columns should be inspected before each use and columns that show any signs of stress on the glass should not be used. Since, column breakage during use is always a possibility, gloves, safety glasses or goggles and a lab coat should always be worn when doing flash chromatography. Kim Auletta Lab Safety Specialist EH&S Z=6200 Stony Brook University kauletta**At_Symbol_Here**notes.cc.sunysb.edu 631-632-3032 EH&S Web site: http://www.stonybrook.edu/ehs/lab/ Remember to wash your hands! From: Yung MorganTo: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: 06/17/2009 02:43 PM Subject: [DCHAS-L] Flash column chromatography Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List Dear DCHAS group, I was wondering if anyone had an idea or can direct me to literature on "Flash chromatography" whereby air is directed the solvent column to speed up its elution of the compound wanted. One of our researchers had gotten a cut from the glass column breaking and cutting him on the arm. Again, when asked, he said: everybody uses this technique! Being an old analytical chemist, I did not remember this method. However, an organic professor had informed me that this method is also called "Flash chromatography" and recommended the air pressure to be no more than 20PSIG and to wrap the column in plastic tapes to protect from breakage! . The lab in question use air spigots on lab benches which runs more than 20PSI if fully opened. Any thoughts or comments you all have are welcome. Thank you in advance and enjoy your summer. Yung Morgan, MsPH Laboratory Safety Industrial Hygiene Services Environmental Health and Safety 117 Draper hall UMASS,Amherst MA 01003 phone (413) 545-2682 Fax (413) 545-2600 email : pmorgan**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.umass.edu
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