When you are using an equipment in your laboratory, you must know the standard operating procedure for it. Every instrument hasa set of standard operation procedures to ensure the user operates it in the exactly ideal and defined way. The failure to use any instrument in the exact designed way as is specified in the SOP can be a big problem in many ways. The main problems encountered due to the failure in maintain SOP guidelines are:
- The experiment dependent on items stored or used through the equipment may fail due to improper conditions.
- The user using the instrument may face troubles, injuries etc.
- The instrument may get damaged causing great monetary loss and inconvenience for the cleanroom.
Therefore, it’s very important that while handling important instrument like desiccator cabinets, you know the exact guidelines, and adhere to the SOP.
How to handle a desiccator cabinet
Desiccator cabinets are for storing of items which are to be saved from any moisture and humidity. Items which can go bad in moisture, and should not be left in unclean air are to be stored in desiccators. The nitrogen desiccator cabinets are made to be cleaned internally through passing nitrogen loaded air, or moisture free clean air.
There is an inlet for nitrogen inside the cabinet, and an outlet valve, through which the internal old air or old nitrogen is pushed out as the freshly inserted nitrogen creates the pressure. The shelves in the cabinets are generally perforated so that the gust of nitrogen can pass through them, and can reach all corners of the cabinet. This ensures that all corners of the cabinet are perfectly purged by nitrogen and no air with moisture stays inside the cabinet. And that’s how things stored inside the cabinet, are maintained ina totally dry atmosphere, away from any exposure to moisture in any way.
Precautions to take as you handle a desiccator cabinet
The best way you handle a desiccator cabinet is by cleaning your hands, and getting them fully dry. If your hands are moist, you would not be able to handle or operate the equipment. Therefore this is the most important precaution that your clothes and hands have to be totally dry and sanitized as you operate the cabinet.
Any item you place inside the cabinet also must be totally dry initially. There is no point putting an item already wet in the cabinet. You must ensure that the items kept inside are therefore totally dry. The Stainless Steel Desiccator Cabinets must be purged at regular intervals with nitrogen, s that no chances of moisture locking is there inside.
Finally
You must get the desiccator cabinets checked at intervals for best results. You can call professionals to come and see the operating status of the equipments, and train staffs too to handle it according to the SOP. That way you can be sure that your costly equipments get handled with care and proper method, while the experiments and work you do in the lab are also properly done.
