SLP

Routine maintenance of laboratory equipment: ·          Ensures that the experiments are conducted efficiently ·          Minimize malfunctions ·          Reduces variation in test results, and improves the accuracy of testing results. ·          Lengthens instrument life. ·          Increases safety for workers. ·          Avoid unnecessary repair expenses. Preventive maintenance techniques: 1.       Cleaning: Easiest, most affordable technique and can be in form of dusting, wiping .etc. Practical examples: ·          Wipe every day the equipment used; cover the sensitive equipment such as microscopes so that dust does not damage the lenses, cover analytical bala...

  Preparatory methods include: cleaning using physical, chemical and biological methods GLASSWARE PREPARATION   Steps of cleaning glassware: Courtesy of Labpedia ·          Decontaminate the glassware by presoaking in 5% bleach or by boiling. ·          Can use any detergent or cleaning powder. Detergent should meet the following conditions: Ø   It can soften the local water supply. Ø   It should be able to remove organic material at a temperature of 60 °C. Ø   It should have a neutral pH after rinsing with water. Ø   Glassware should be free of the microbiological organism after the following rinsing.   ·          Autoclave may be the alternate method. ·          If the glassware is soaked in water after use, that is ideal. A wire brush may be used to scrub off any...

  Classification of laboratory apparatus Classifying apparatus based on the type of material : Glassware: graduated cylinders, side arm, Erlenmeyer flask, beaker, funnels, test tubes, watch glasses, fractionating column, west condenser, separator funnel, stopper, round bottomed flask, three-way adapter (distilling head), Claisen adapter, vacuum adapter, thermometer adapter, drying tube, Hickman head, water condenser, air condenser, conical vial and spin vane. Ceramics: crucible, mortar and pestle, Buchner funnel, pipe clay triangle, tiles Rubber: dropper, rubber tubing, rubber corks, pipette filler Plastic: wash bottle, funnel, test tube rack Platinum (and its alloys): platinum loop, tongs. Platinum offers high electrical conductivity and resistance to chemical attack. Quartz: cuvette Aluminium: TLC paper Nichrome wire loop is also called a smear loop, micro streaker and inoculation wand. It is easy to sterilize reuse because nichrome wire resists deterioration wi...