Safeguarding Labs from Solvent Hazards

In laboratories, ductless fume hoods are commonly used for various purposes. They provide a safe workspace for handling hazardous substances, protecting both researchers and the surrounding environment. Ductless fume hoods are ideal for applications such as chemical analysis, pharmaceutical research, microbiology, and forensic science.

When it comes to specific industry applications, ductless fume hoods play a crucial role in academia, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. They ensure the safety of researchers while handling potent compounds and protecting sensitive products from contamination. In research laboratories, ductless fume hoods are utilized for experiments involving volatile chemicals, ensuring a controlled environment, and preventing cross-contamination.

Given the broad use of solvents in our everyday lives, it is no surprise that solvents are widely used for industrial, academic, pharmaceutical, biotech, and educational applications. Solvents are typically liquids used to dissolve powders, solids, or other substances. Many products are manufactured from solvents such as adhesives, lenses for eyeglasses, and materials for electronics.

Applications in scientific wet labs, such as chromatography, also utilize solvents. Metal parts that are pieces of assembly lines, tools, or other products can become covered in difficult-to-remove debris or corrosion. A typical solution would be to use a cleaning agent designed for metal parts that contains strong solvents. These solvents will dissolve built-up corrosion and remove it from the metal part. Another example of when solvents are used is in the food industry. Solvents can be used to extract substances from foods to produce products such as vegetable oil or decaffeinated coffee.

Working with solvents in ductless fume hoods can help protect yourself and reduce nuisance odors. Mixing solvents should be done in a hood, where air is pulled away from the operator, across the workspace. The contaminated air at the back of the hood is then redirected to the filtration area at the top of the hood. Most solvents are easily captured with carbon filters, but evaluation of the application should be completed prior to incorporating filtration, the application could require more than just carbon. A stacking of carbon and HEPA filters could be required to capture the occupational hazards effectively. Fill out an application worksheet, and our specialists will help you determine if your application can work with a ductless hood. This will green up your laboratory and provide a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for years to come.