Cleaning Labware – Narrow Neck Flasks
Q. What is the proper way to clean narrow neck flasks?
A. Narrow neck flasks are best cleaned in labware washers with special attachments that have a spray nozzle that goes up inside the flask. It is very hard to successfully clean narrow neck flasks in a simple home dishwasher or a lab washer that does not have special narrow neck flask racks.
Low and Non Volatile Organic Compound VOC Cleaners
Q. To comply with air quality requlations, the use of low volatile cleaning compounds is often required. How much volatile organic compounds (VOC) are in Alconox cleaners? A. The use of aqueous cleaners
Alconox for Diamond Evaluation
Q. I conduct diamond evaluations for a gem company and need to be able to clean diamonds with minimal effort. A. I recommend using a 1% Alconox detergent solution in an ultrasonic tank to clean diamonds. For information see the Alconox Material Data Safety Sheets.
Hardened Alconox Detergent Powder
Q. Is there any way to restore a pail of Alconox to its original form after it has become solid like a rock? A. Regretfully, once solidified, the phosphates in Alconox detergent powder have been hydrolyzed by exposure to water or humidity and then have re-condensed and hydrated to form a phosphate cement.
Alconox and Environmental Safety
Q. I will be sampling sediments in a lake with a drilling unit. I am wondering if Alconox is harmful to the environment. i.e. if it got into the lake, is there a possibility of harm? I plan on using it to rinse drill bits. Also, what concentration is typical?