Disclaimer/whatever: my company is a Chemglass (now Chemglass Life Sci ences) distributor.

There are older chromatography columns out there made out of standard wall tubing.  Flash chromatography first came into vogue the late 1970 's, so it's possible you may have some thinner wall ones circulating at you r organization.  A true flash chromatography column should be construc ted out of medium wall tubing to provide an extra margin of safety.   Chemglass not only makes theirs out of medium wall tubing, they are also av ailable from the factory with a clear plastic coating by special order (if anyone wants quotes on these, contact me off list).

Many columns use a fritted glass disc at the bottom.  The maximum differential pressure rating on those is 15 psi.  So 15 or 20 psi sho uld be established as the safe working limit, yes.

Relatively safe pressure control on columns can be achieved by ma king sure that the gas flow control adapter at the top is not secured **too ** tightly.  A Keck clip or such is more than enough to secure the ada pter, but can still provide some pressure relief.    It is, of co urse, more reliable and desirable to provide a pressure gauge and/or some s ort of relief system teed into the gas supply line so that researchers know exactly how much pressure they are achieving.   The best solution wou ld be a regulator can be used on the gas/air supply line.

Your written SOP for chromatography should include a discussion of the pressurization hazards, "safe" pressure ranges, and how to mitigate the ri sks.   The SOP should also explain that proper PPE (lab coats with sle eves, goggles) and engineering controls (fume hood sashes, blast shields et c.) can also go a long way in minimizing any injury should an accident occu r.

Rob Toreki

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 researche rs had gotten a cut from the glass column breaking and cutting him on the a rm.

Again, when asked, he said: everybody uses this technique! Being an old analytical chemist, I did not remember this method. However, an organic pro fessor had informed me that this method is also called "Flash chrom atography=" and recommended the air pressure to be no more than 20PS IG 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 i f 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
Env ironmental Health and Safety
117 Draper hall
UMASS,Amherst MA 01003
phone (413)  545-2682
Fax  (413) 545-26 00
email : pmorgan**At_Symbol_Here**ehs.umass.edu