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Understanding Volumetric Glassware

Volumetric glassware is designed to measure a predefined volume of liquid or to measure the volume of a delivered liquid. Volumetric glassware includes, volumetric flasks, volumetric pipettes, burettes, serological pipettes, mohr pipettes, graduated cylinders and graduated mixing cylinders.  Since many labs are regulated by different agencies, it is important to understand the different types of calibration, classification and certifications in order to choose the correct piece of glassware for your laboratory.

Burettes and pipettes are calibrated TD "To Deliver" which means the delivered quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware.  Volumetric flasks and graduated cylinders are calibrated TC  "To Contain" which means the contained quantity of liquid corresponds to the capacity listed on the glassware.  

Our Class A volumetric glassware is available with a Batch Certificate or an Individual Certificate. Batch Certificates list the mean value contained, standard deviation and batch number of the glassware.  Individually Certified glassware have an individual serial #, mean value, standard deviation, measured uncertainty, as well as the batch number listed on the certificate. All Class A glassware is manufactured to ASTM  standards using state-of-the-art manufacturing and calibration equipment. The calibration laboratory is NABL accredited in accordance with ISO 17025:2005 standards.  Results of calibration are guaranteed for precision as per DIN, ISO, USP and ASTM Standards.

Our Class B volumetric glassware feature tolerances that are about twice that of comparable glass A glassware. Class B glassware is used in labs for basic measurements of liquids.

When you are trying to decide the level of calibration needed in your lab keep in mind that our Class A Individually Certified volumetric glassware is accepted in calibration laboratories worldwide. Compare our prices to other leading glassware manufacturers and the choice will be clear.

Individual Certificate

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 Batch Certificate

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WaterVac 100 vacuum filtration system.

At Southern Labware we are always on the lookout for new products that can improve the process and efficiency of procedures in the lab.  Over the years there have not been many improvements in the membrane filtration technique.  A vacuum pump, filter holder and filtering flask is the typical set up.  The WaterVac 100 is a brand new product from the worldwide leader in vacuum filtration apparatuses, Rocker Scientific.

The WaterVac 100 can be used for the membrane filter technique for analyzing aqueous-based fluids for microbial contamination.  Simply add a 47mm filter holder and you have a vacuum filtration system that takes up 70% less space on the lab bench.  

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The WaterVac 100 is a unique vacuum filtration system which can generate sufficient vacuum for filtration through built-in air/water pump and drain the waste liquid directly. Compared with traditional filtration equipment, WaterVac 100 does not need additional suction flasks or bottles to collect the waste liquid.   This space saving feature makes it ideal for working in tight spaces like a laminar flow cabinet.

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The following specifications of the WaterVac 100 make it versatile enough for many general filtration applications as well as meeting the Membrane Filter (MF) Technique filtration parameters described in U.S. EPA, ISO and ASTM standards .

Specification

  • Max. vacuum : 540 mmHg
  • Max. flowrate (air) : 2.2 LPM
  • Max. flowrate (clean water) : 0.5 LPM
  • Weight : 1.16 Kg
  • Power : DC 12 V, 1.5A,
  • Transformer : 100-240VAC, 50/60Hz
  • Max. ambient temperature : 5 - 40 °C
  • Dimension : 170 x 120 x 96 mm (LxWxH)

Materials :

  • Housing material - stainless steel with powder painting
  • Valve plate - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
  • Diaphragm - EPDM(Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
  • Fluid Path inlet / outlet port - Stainless steel # 316
  • O-ring - FKM
  • Fluid path hose - silicone tube
  • Draining hose - silicone , Ø4 / Ø8mm,  2 meter.

 

The WaterVac 100 is a versatile product that will save you space, time and money.  If you have any application questions please contact us at 844-522-9273 or see the product online at WaterVac 100 vacuum filteration system

 

 

 

 

 

pH Meters

pH – MORE THAN AT A GLANCE

pH is a measure of the alkalinity or acidity of a nutrient solution. A neutral solution is numerically equal pH 7; as the solution gets more acidic, the numbers decrease and increase as it becomes more alkaline or basic. Pure water is neither alkaline nor acidic, rather it is neutral.

This sounds quite simple until we begin to evaluate which meter we should use because this evaluation requires close scrutiny not only of the product we choose, but also we must make our selection of the meter select based on:

ACCURACY – typically from pH +/-0.1 to pH+/-0.01

ATC – AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION – When there is an increase or decrease in the temperature of a solution, the pH of the solution can change. With ATC, the meter signals the sensor and corrects the pH reading for changes in the electrodes sensitivity at that temperature. (Oakton pH meters – www.southernlabware.com)

CALIBRATION – Your pH meter is calibrated using buffers of a known pH by immersing the electrode and adjusting the meter accordingly. The electrode should always be rinsed with distilled water after each calibration point is established. For example, in some cases a 5-point calibration may be recommended. (pH Buffers –

ELECTRODE – A solution is like a battery and can generate an amount of voltage depending on the concentration of Hydrogen (H+) ion present. pH electrodes measure the voltage or potential difference of the solution in which it is dipped. Glass electrodes are the most popular and successful electrochemical sensors. It consists of a glass bulb membrane, hence its name, and a tubular body which separates an internal solution and a silver/silver chloride electrode from the tested solution. This is hooked up to a pH meter which is in reality a voltmeter which measures the potential difference and its changes across the glass membrane. There are single junction and double junction electrodes as well as stainless steel, single junction and double junction electrodes that may be replaceable or non-replaceable. (Electrodes available at Buy Electrodes from ph meters and testers ).   

RESOLUTION – This term should not be confused with ACCURACY. The resolution is the smallest value that is shown on the instruments display. Thus an instrument that has a 0.01 pH means that it will read to the nearest 0.01 pH; for example 8.06 pH. The better the resolution, the better is the measurement display capability of the meter. This may not mean that this is a more accurate pH meter, however it does usually indicate a superior instrument. (Waterproof, double-junction pH Testr 30 by Oakton at (Buy Electrodes and Waterproof, double-junction pH Testr 30 by oakton at ph meters and testers).

When choosing which pH meter is best for your application, price may be a factor and a meter that costs twice what another one costs does not always mean it will deliver results that are twice as good. Always compare specifications to get the best value and, important too, compare the replacement costs of the electrodes or other probes for your meter. Remember, first determine your application needs, then compare these factors: ACCURACY, ATC, CALIBRATION, ELECTRODES, RESOLUTION.

Recycling laboratory plastics

What is one of the most important laboratory products in today's research laboratory?  Without a doubt it is laboratory plasticware.  Laboratory plastics such as centrifuge tubes, microcentrifuge tubes, culture tubes and pipettes are an essential tool for cell biologists, molecular biologists and biochemists. Plasticware offers researchers accuracy in volume measurement, sterility, reduction of cross contamination, but most importantly convenience and disposability.  Unfortunately, disposability and convenience comes at a price.  What happens to all the discarded pipette tips, tip boxes and centrifuge tubes?  Are they simply thrown away with the other laboratory waste that ends up in a landfill?  There must be a better way to disgard this waste.

TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™ platform allows you to recycle many of those hard to recycle items used in your lab.  The Zero Waste Box program helps give your lab the opportunity to go zero waste, sending nothing to landfills or incineration. TerraCycle uses only circular methods (reuse, upcycling or recycling) for repurposing the waste collected through the Zero Waste Box™ platform.  TerraCycle will never landfill or incinerate your waste.

So how is all the waste collected in Zero Waste Box™ processed?  

zerowaste

Reuse

Reuse (using something for its original purpose) is always the best option as it leverages all of the energy and materials that were needed to make the original product.

Upcycling

The key difference between upcycling and reusing waste is that with upcycling the original intention of the object changes. TerraCycle works with many of the world's best companies to bring upcycling solutions to many forms of waste.  

TerraCycle's goal is to focus on hard-to-recycle materials, developing circular solutions for otherwise linear systems.  Today we recycle millions of pounds of such material on a weekly basis, diverting it from our landfills and incinerators.

Recycling

The science of recycling is focused on recovering the materials that an object is made of. For example, recycling a used pen involves shredding it, separating the materials that it was made from, then melting those materials into raw materials that can be then used to make new recycled products. By volume, TerraCycle recycles over 97% of the waste that is collected.

When looking at a new waste stream we first focus on moving it from a linear disposal system to a circular one, and then over time to a platform that is as closed loop as technically possible.

The Zero Waste Box™ platform collects waste that is very consistent in composition and volume.  The material collected is consistent with low lot-to-lot variability. The in-house R&D department and laboratories at TerraCycle have the capability to customize materials to meet almost any specific requirements of their production partners. The goal is to provide materials to a company that can be used as a sustainable alternative to virgin materials; using less crude oil and instead utilizing a material that would normally be sent to landfill. 

R&D teams at TerraCycle work closely with their partners to develop closed-loop solutions for various waste materials. These closed loop solutions can range from making secondary applications like displays or pallets from a waste material to be used by the same company to primary applications that involve turning the waste back into the same product that it began as. 

So how does it work?

Simply choose a Zero Waste Box™ 

zerowaste

It's that easy. 

It's not everyday you find a new and exciting solution to a very real problem. TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Box™ creates a streamlined process for collecting and recycling laboratory waste.  Help reduce your labs carbon footprint with a Zero Waste Box™.

For more information about TerraCycle and their collection and recycling process please visit TerraCycle

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EZwaste® Solvent Waste System

The EZwaste® Solvent Waste System from Foxx Life Science solves the problem of exposure to harmful chemical vapors created from the waste generated in HPLC laboratories.  The Solvent Waste System provides a closed-loop system where tubing from the HPLC is directly attached to the manifold on the container.  Vapors then pass through the EZ Waste filter where the hazardous elements are removed and the treated air is released into the environment.

If your laboratory is collecting chemical waste as it exits the HPLC in bottles or other open containers then you may be unaware of the vapors you are exposed to.  There are numerous chemicals that are odorless and cannot be perceived by laboratory personnel. This means that workers may be unaware of the chemicals that they are inhaling. The best solution to avoid inhaling these vapors is to create a closed-loop system where the vapors are contained in a receptacle that has the proper chemical compatibility with the solvents. The EZwaste® system is such a system.

The patented VersaCap® technology is designed to fit with a variety of tubing types used with HPLC systems. If you cannot find the correct configuration for your HPLC setup, please contact us at 844-522-9273 for assistance.

 Buy EZwaste® Heavy Duty Solvent Waste System

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