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Wash bottle
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 Plastic wash bottles for ethanol and water | |
| Other names | Squeeze Bottle |
|---|---|
| Uses | To clean laboratory glassware and other equipment. They are filled with appropriate cleaning liquids, and poured over the tool that needs to be cleaned. |
| Notable experiments | The wash bottle is generally used in the clean-up phase of many experiments |
A wash bottle is a squeeze bottle with a nozzle, used to rinse various pieces of laboratory glassware, such as test tubes and round bottom flasks.
Wash bottles are sealed with a screw-top lid. When hand pressure is applied to the bottle, the liquid inside becomes pressurized and is forced out of the nozzle into a narrow stream of liquid.
Most wash bottles are made up of polyethylene, which is a flexible solvent-resistant petroleum-based plastic. Most bottles contain an internal dip tube allowing upright use.
Wash bottles may be filled with a range of common laboratory solvents and reagents, according to the work to be undertaken. These include deionized water, detergent solutions and rinse solvents such as acetone, isopropanol or ethanol. In biological labs it is common to keep sodium hypochlorite solution in a wash bottle to disinfect unneeded cultures.
Colour codes
[edit]
There are a consistent set of colour codes and markings used to identify the contents of wash bottles. Red is used for acetone, White for ethanol or sodium hypochlorite or distilled water, green for Methanol, yellow for isopropanol and blue for distilled water. [1]
Safety
[edit]Safety warning labels are also used to identify potential hazards. Where reagents with high vapour pressure are used such as ethanol or methanol, small pressure release holes are incorporated into the cap to release and excess vapour pressure and avoid material being ejected through the nozzle when not in use.
Advantages
[edit]The use of wash bottles helps researchers control and measure the precise amount of liquid used. In addition, unwanted substances or particles cannot pass through wash bottles.[2] The use of wash bottles is more convenient than using beaker and graduated cylinders.[3]
Types
[edit]Different types of wash bottles are suitable with different types of substances. A spiral gas-lift wash bottle, for example, is suitable for eliminating gas with the liquid system having two phases like bromide and water.[4] In addition, a Simple graduated wash bottle helps determine the amount of liquid used.[5] A type of strong solvent and a type of destructive substance can be dealt with Nalgene Teflon FEP wash bottles since the special type of plastic is used to produce this type of wash bottles.[6]
Storage
[edit]Wash bottles are typically kept on the laboratory bench in a secure way so that they can be easily located and so that they do not interfere with other work taking place. Such containment may be by the use of two ring clamps which have similar size attached to a lattice rod. [7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Chimactiv - Interactive numerical educational resources for the analysis of complex media". chimactiv.agroparistech.fr. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
- ^ Woodrift, Ray (July 1940). "A Convenient Type of Wash Bottle". Journal of Chemical Education. 17 (7): 323. Bibcode:1940JChEd..17..323W. doi:10.1021/ed017p323.
- ^ Rudolph, Goetz (October 1977). "Wash bottle for volatile solvents". J. Chem. Educ. 54 (10): 634. Bibcode:1977JChEd..54..634G. doi:10.1021/ed054p634.
- ^ B. B., Corson (November 1938). "Absorption efficiency of spiral gas-lift wash bottle". Analytical Chemistry. 10 (11): 646. doi:10.1021/ac50127a015.
- ^ Earle R., Caley (July 1929). "Simple graduated wash bottles". Analytical Chemistry. 1 (3): 162. doi:10.1021/ac50067a027.
- ^ Nalgene® Wash Bottles, Nalgene® Wash Bottles (October 1973). "Wash Bottles". Analytical Chemistry. 45 (12): 980A. doi:10.1021/ac60334a720.
- ^ Kjonaas, Richard A. (June 1984). "Storage of laboratory wash bottles". Journal of Chemical Education. 61 (6): 541. Bibcode:1984JChEd..61..541K. doi:10.1021/ed061p541.
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Wash bottle
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Overview
Definition and Purpose
A wash bottle is a flexible squeeze bottle equipped with a nozzle designed to deliver a directed, controlled stream of liquid, primarily for rinsing laboratory glassware such as test tubes, flasks, and beakers.[5][1] This simple apparatus allows users to apply liquid precisely without the need for more complex dispensing tools, ensuring efficient cleaning in chemical, biological, or analytical settings.[6] The primary purposes of a wash bottle include removing experimental residues from glassware, cleaning equipment to prevent cross-contamination between procedures, and enabling the precise addition of solvents during laboratory operations.[1] By squeezing the bottle, laboratory personnel can direct a fine stream to targeted areas, minimizing waste and avoiding direct contact that could introduce impurities.[7] This functionality supports accurate rinsing after reactions or dilutions, maintaining the integrity of subsequent experiments.[8] Common liquids dispensed from wash bottles are distilled water for general rinsing to avoid mineral deposits, and organic solvents such as acetone or ethanol for effectively dissolving and removing organic residues from glass surfaces.[9][10] These choices ensure compatibility with various lab protocols while preserving equipment cleanliness. In laboratory contexts, the device is also referred to as a rinse bottle or squirt bottle.[3] Over time, wash bottles have evolved from glass designs in the mid-19th century to modern plastic versions for enhanced durability and safety.[11]History
The origins of the wash bottle trace back to the early 19th century, when German chemist Heinrich Rose introduced concepts for reagent dispensing in analytical chemistry using simple glass containers in his 1829 publication Handbuch der Analytischen Chemie.[2] This work laid foundational ideas for handling solvents and reagents to facilitate precipitate separation and identification, though it did not detail a dedicated dispensing device.[2] A key milestone came in the 1840s through the contributions of Karl Remigius Fresenius, who advanced analytical chemistry tools in his 1841 manual Anleitung zur qualitativen chemischen Analyse.[2] Fresenius described an early prototype of the wash bottle as a flat-bottomed glass flask fitted with a cork stopper and two glass tubes—one short for blowing air and one longer with a bent nozzle for directing a stream of water to rinse precipitates.[2] This design, influenced by Rose's methods, became essential for precise solvent delivery in qualitative analysis and was detailed over three pages in Fresenius's influential text, which saw 17 editions during his lifetime.[2] By the mid-19th century, laboratory setups commonly featured glass wash bottles with stoppers and tubes for solvent delivery, often containing water, alcohol, or ether to clean glassware and dissolve residues, as evidenced by examples from 1850s exhibitions.[11] The transition to plastic occurred post-World War II, with polyethylene adoption in the 1950s and 1960s enabling flexible squeeze mechanisms that replaced rigid glass versions and eliminated the need for manual blowing.[2] In 1949, the Nalge Company, founded by Emanuel Goldberg, began producing polyethylene labware including jars and bottles, revolutionizing durability and ease of use in laboratories under the Nalgene brand.[12] Later, more chemical-resistant materials like polypropylene were adopted for broader solvent compatibility, while lab safety protocols saw increased standardization through developments leading to the OSHA Laboratory Standard (effective in 1990).[13] No major design changes have occurred since, with ongoing focus on compliance and material integrity.[2]Design and Components
Structure
A typical wash bottle features a cylindrical body, usually with a capacity of 500 mL, paired with a screw-top lid that incorporates an integrated nozzle and a dip tube extending to the bottom of the container. This design ensures efficient liquid storage and controlled dispensing in laboratory settings.[5] The nozzle is engineered as an angled or straight delivery tube to produce a precise, directed stream of liquid, often featuring a curved 90-degree bend that facilitates ergonomic aiming toward specific targets without requiring awkward hand positioning. Internally, the dip tube draws liquid from the bottle's base during squeezing, which helps prevent air locks and ensures consistent flow, while some caps include pressure release vents to mitigate buildup of internal pressure and avoid uncontrolled expulsion of contents.[3][5] Assembly involves a threaded connection between the lid and body that provides a secure, leak-proof seal, maintaining integrity during handling and storage; the body may also include optional molded graduations along its side for approximate volume estimation. The flexible walls of the cylindrical body allow for manual compression, generating the pressure needed to propel liquid through the nozzle and dip tube system.[5][3]Materials
Wash bottles are primarily constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a flexible and chemically resistant plastic well-suited for dispensing water and mild solvents in laboratory settings.[14][15] LDPE's pliability allows for easy squeezing to control liquid flow, while its resistance to common aqueous solutions minimizes degradation during routine use.[16] Alternative materials include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which offers greater durability and rigidity for heavier-duty applications without sacrificing broad chemical compatibility.[17][18] Polypropylene (PP) serves as another option, providing enhanced tolerance to elevated temperatures up to 135°C, making it suitable for autoclaving or steam sterilization processes.[19][20] For handling aggressive chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid, fluoropolymers like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) are employed due to their exceptional inertness and resistance to corrosion.[21][22] Key properties of these materials include chemical inertness, which prevents the leaching of contaminants into stored liquids, ensuring sample purity in analytical work.[16][23] LDPE and PP can be translucent for visual monitoring of contents, while opaque variants protect light-sensitive reagents; additionally, HDPE and PP exhibit strong UV resistance to maintain integrity during prolonged storage.[20][24][25] Material selection prioritizes compatibility with intended solvents—for instance, polystyrene is avoided for acetone due to rapid dissolution—along with adherence to regulatory standards such as FDA compliance for low extractables and high purity in lab-grade products.[26][27][28] From an environmental perspective, LDPE, HDPE, and PP are recyclable, facilitating waste reduction in labs, with recent developments incorporating bio-based polymers like sugarcane-derived polyethylene to lower reliance on fossil fuels while preserving performance characteristics.[29][30][31]Types
Standard Squeeze Bottles
The standard squeeze bottle represents the most ubiquitous type of wash bottle used in laboratory environments, consisting of a flexible polyethylene container equipped with a nozzle and an internal dip tube for dispensing liquids. Typically constructed from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), these bottles are available in capacities ranging from 250 mL to 1000 mL, making them suitable for routine rinsing tasks without requiring excessive volume.[5][32] A key feature of these bottles is their manual squeeze operation, which allows users to control the stream pressure and flow rate by varying the hand pressure applied to the body, enabling precise delivery of rinses such as distilled water. They are often labeled with contents like "distilled water" or "general use" to facilitate quick identification and safe handling in shared lab spaces. This design ensures ease of use in general settings, where the bottle's translucent material permits visual monitoring of liquid levels.[33][34] Since the 1960s, standard squeeze bottles have become a staple in educational and research laboratories, replacing earlier glass versions due to their durability and reduced breakage risk. Their cost-effectiveness, with options for both reusable and disposable variants, has contributed to widespread adoption across various scientific disciplines. Common brands, such as Nalgene, exemplify this prevalence by offering reliable products tailored for lab needs.[2] Manufacturing of these bottles adheres to standards emphasizing a one-piece molded construction for the nozzle and dip tube assembly, which minimizes leaks and ensures a secure, uniform seal. Produced in ISO-certified facilities, they undergo leak testing to guarantee performance under normal lab conditions.[6][35]Specialized Variants
Specialized variants of wash bottles are designed to address specific challenges in laboratory environments, such as handling volatile solvents, requiring precise volume control, or resisting aggressive chemicals. These adaptations enhance functionality for niche applications while maintaining the core principle of controlled liquid dispensing. The spiral gas-lift wash bottle represents a historical innovation for gas-liquid interactions, where gas is bubbled through a spiral tube to propel liquid upward, increasing contact time between phases for efficient absorption or washing. This design is particularly suitable for volatile solvents in processes like gas scrubbing, as demonstrated in early analytical chemistry setups where it outperformed standard bottles in bromine-water absorption efficiency.[36] Graduated wash bottles incorporate volume markings along the body to enable precise dispensing, essential in quantitative analyses or titrations in high-accuracy laboratories. While commonly fabricated from durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for flexibility,[37] Chemical-resistant variants, such as those made from Teflon FEP by Nalgene, are engineered for dispensing strong acids, bases, or organic solvents without degradation or leaching contaminants. These bottles feature integral fluoropolymer construction for broad compatibility, including with perfluorinated compounds. Additionally, self-venting caps incorporate valves like DripLok to safely release vapor pressure from high-vapor-pressure liquids, preventing drips or explosions during storage and use.[38][39] Other innovations include wide-mouth designs that facilitate rapid filling and reduce spillage, ideal for frequent refills in busy workflows. These features minimize user fatigue and enhance precision in specialized fields like synthetic chemistry, where controlled exposure to reactive substances is critical.[40]Usage
Applications in Laboratories
Wash bottles are commonly employed in laboratory settings for post-experiment cleanup, particularly in rinsing glassware such as beakers, pipettes, and chromatography columns to remove precipitates or residues without introducing contaminants.[4][6] This application ensures thorough cleaning while minimizing the risk of cross-contamination between experiments.[1] In analytical procedures, wash bottles facilitate the addition of rinse solvents during titrations to maintain accuracy in endpoint detection, washing precipitates in gravimetric analysis to isolate pure solids, and diluting samples for subsequent measurements.[41][4] These uses rely on the directed delivery of liquids to avoid disrupting delicate setups.[42] Field-specific applications highlight the versatility of wash bottles; in chemistry labs, they enable precise solvent delivery for reactions and chromatography, while in biology labs, they support sterile rinsing of microscope slides and reusable labware with disinfectants or buffers.[6][43] In environmental laboratories, wash bottles aid sample preparation by rinsing equipment to prevent analyte interference during water or soil analysis.[44][1] Wash bottles are integrated into standard operating procedures (SOPs) in ISO-accredited laboratories to support contamination control, where they deliver cleaning solutions or deionized water in controlled manners to maintain analytical integrity.[45][46] This practice aligns with quality assurance protocols that emphasize clean workflows.[47] Volume considerations in wash bottle use allow for small, precise streams ideal for targeted rinsing in sensitive procedures, contrasting with broader sprays for bulk cleaning of larger apparatus, enabling adaptability across lab tasks.[6][4][48]Operation and Filling
To prepare a wash bottle for use, unscrew the cap assembly, which typically includes an integrated dip tube extending to the bottom of the bottle and a dispensing nozzle. With the bottle held upright, pour the appropriate liquid—such as distilled water, ethanol, or a compatible solvent—into the opening until it reaches the manufacturer's designated fill line (if marked), which typically allows for about 5-10% headspace for air compression, or approximately 90-95% of capacity for standard sizes, to provide adequate air space for compression during dispensing and to minimize the risk of spills or unintended ejection.[49] Overfilling beyond this level can lead to leakage, pressure buildup, or impaired functionality, so it is essential to adhere to the manufacturer's recommended capacity.[50] Once filled, securely reattach the cap assembly to ensure an airtight seal. For effective operation, grasp the bottle upright with one hand supporting the body and the other stabilizing the nozzle, directing it away from personnel and sensitive equipment. Apply gentle pressure to the flexible body to eject a controlled, fine stream of liquid suitable for precise rinsing; increase squeeze force for a broader or more forceful flow as needed, while always aiming the nozzle directly at the target surface for optimal coverage.[6] In designs with adjustable nozzles, such as those allowing tip trimming, this can further customize the stream intensity.[6] During use, perform routine maintenance by flushing the bottle and nozzle with the contained liquid to detect and clear any clogs from residues or particulates; if the nozzle shows signs of cracking or damage, replace the affected component or the entire bottle to maintain reliability.[6] To prevent cross-contamination, assign dedicated bottles to specific liquids and label each one immediately after filling, including the contents, concentration, and preparation date.[51] Common issues like leaks can often be resolved by firmly tightening the cap or examining the dip tube and seals for wear, replacing them if necessary to restore integrity.[6] If persistent problems arise, consult the manufacturer's chemical compatibility guide to verify material suitability for the liquid in use.Safety and Identification
Color Coding
Color coding systems for wash bottles provide a standardized visual method to quickly identify the contents, reducing the risk of errors and cross-contamination in fast-paced laboratory settings. These systems typically feature colored caps or bottles that correspond to specific solvents or reagents, complementing mandatory printed labels that detail the chemical name, formula, hazards, and safety information in compliance with global standards. The primary goal is to enhance safety by enabling immediate recognition without needing to read fine print, particularly during routine procedures like rinsing glassware.[52] Common industry standards, as adopted by major manufacturers like Thermo Scientific Nalgene, assign specific colors to frequently used laboratory solvents:| Color | Associated Chemical(s) |
|---|---|
| Red | Acetone |
| White | Ethanol |
| Green | Methanol |
| Blue | Deionized or distilled water |
| Yellow | Isopropanol |