Operating the Glovebox
Robert M Rioux, Ajay Sathe, Zhifeng Chen, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
A glovebox is an isolated enclosure that is designed to maintain an inert atmosphere. The manipulation of chemicals or apparatus is done via the use of gloves, which allow operation while still maintaining an inert atmosphere. A positive pressure is utilized to compensate for any passive leaks. Objects can be transferred in and out of the box using an antechamber that acts as an airlock between the box and the outside atmosphere1. A glovebox can have multiple pair(s) of gloves associated with it depending on the size of the box.
1. Transferring Objects into the Glovebox
- Make sure both doors are closed (this should be the default position). If the chamber is under vacuum, fill it with nitrogen by turning the valve to fill.
- Open the outer door, and transfer the object in the chamber. Slide the object as deep as possible, which makes it easier to reach it from inside the glovebox. Close the door isolating the antechamber from the ambient environment. DO NOT over tighten the door, go only a quarter-turn further.
- Once
Gloveboxes are essentially devices in the research laboratory for the manipulation of air- and water-sensitive chemicals that are not easily worked with on a Schlenk line. Gloveboxes are particularly useful for the transfer of chemicals into vessels that are incompatible with Schlenk line assemblies. The proper operation, good housekeeping, and maintenance of a laboratory glovebox ensure that sensitive experiments can be conducted without exposure to oxygen and water.
- Ashby and R. D. Schwartz J. Chem. Educ., 1974, 51 (1), p 65
- Glovebox Use Guidelines, University of Houston, 2009.
- Standard Operating Procedures, Bartlett Group, University of Michigan, 2016.
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