How to Clean Glassware (Carbon and Nitrogen Free)

How to wash glassware for use on the Shimadzu (TC, TN, IC, NPOC)

  1. Clean glassware as soon as possible after use.
    1. Empty and properly dispose of current contents.
    2. Make sure to remove all labelling tape or paper labels.
    3. Sharpie can be left on, it will burn off during ashing.
  2. Rinse 1x with D.I. water from tap.
    1. If glassware has no visibile residue thoroughly rinse glassware and allow to dry - see step 6.
  3. If any visible residue remains in the glassware:
    1. Soak glassware for 2 hours in Liqui-Nox bath (small amount of Liqui-Nox in tub of

      warm water).

    2. Rinse 3x with D.I. water from tap, both insides and outsides of vials.

    3. If glassware has no visibile residue thoroughly rinse glassware and allow to dry - see step 6

    4. If any visibile residue remains inside the glassware:

  4. If any visible residue remains in the glassware:
    1. Transfer glassware to acid bath (~10% HCl) for a minimum of 1 hour. Wear dishwashing (orange nitrile) gloves when working with acid bath. NO single use gloves. Make sure that interior surface of glassware is fully submerge in acid (no air bubbles).
    2. Remove glassware from acid bath directly into wash tub. Drain as much acid back into bath as possible. Take care not to drip or splash acid outside of bath.
    3. Rinse 3x with D.I. water from tap, both insides and outsides of vials.
    4. If glassware has no visibile residue thoroughly rinse glassware and allow to dry - see step 6
  5. If any visibile residue remains in the glassware, contact the EAL Analyst to assess what to do next.
  6. Thoroughly rinse glassware
    1. Rinse glassware 3x with D.I. water from tap.
    2. Rinse glassware 1x with Milli-Q water.
    3. Invert glassware and allow to dry.
  7. Clean, dry glassware should be stored in the Shimadzu cabinet (labeled tub).

Glassware MUST be ashed before using for field sampling or on the Shimadzu.

It is the responsibility of the person using the glassware to do the ashing.

How to ash glassware for use on the Shimadzu:

  1. Wearing single use gloves wrap/cap top of each vial with foil (shiny side out).
  2. Place glassware in metal tray.
  3. Place tray of glassware in muffle furnace.
  4. Close door and set furnace temperature to 475°C.
  5. Turn furnace on. Make sure temperature is set properly.
  6. Check at 30 minutes that the oven is at correct temperature on the read out.
  7. Bake at 475°C for 4 hours.
  8. Turn off oven and allow glassware to cool in oven at least 2 hours (preferably overnight).
  9. Transfer vials to clean plastic bin in Shimadzu cabinet for storage.