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Can I use a Plastic Pippette? Options
 
Squirrel
#1 Posted : 9/19/2013 2:11:31 AM

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Hey guys,

So I know how I should look up the chemical make up and see if it is resistant but I seriously don't know what company or plastic the pipette is made out of.

I have 2 average looking plastic pipette's that I snagged from class, they look like the ones were you can get a bundle of 100 from $15

I know that a glass one is best but has anyone used plastic pipette when pulling and do you think that the naphta melts the plastic?
 

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Cosmic Spore
#2 Posted : 9/19/2013 2:29:07 AM

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I would not use plastic at all for extractions.

Phthalates: Warning to those using plastic containers/instruments in extractions

and

using plastic for extraction?

both listed on the FAQ.

I use a glass turkey baster I bought on amazon.com and I use all glass items for extraction.
 
Squirrel
#3 Posted : 9/19/2013 12:17:06 PM

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Cosmic Spore wrote:
I would not use plastic at all for extractions.

Phthalates: Warning to those using plastic containers/instruments in extractions

and

using plastic for extraction?

both listed on the FAQ.

I use a glass turkey baster I bought on amazon.com and I use all glass items for extraction.


Ok well thanks for the help, now I know for sure. And ill get my self a glass turkey baster soon!
 
dg
#4 Posted : 9/19/2013 2:19:16 PM
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i see plastic in real labs all the time- folks around here think it is reaaally bad however
 
Vodsel
#5 Posted : 9/19/2013 2:31:22 PM

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dg wrote:
i see plastic in real labs all the time- folks around here think it is reaaally bad however


Plastic is a generic name that includes many types of polymers. There's several types of plastic that will react with the aliphatic hydrocarbons used in extractions, or even with acetone. It might be really bad, or not, depending on the combination. For whoever is willing to do homework and check compatibility charts, some plastics might be an option. But as a general advice and to keep people safe, recommending "plastic" is not a good idea.
 
vineseeker
#6 Posted : 9/19/2013 3:04:58 PM

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I have a turkey baster which is made out of silicon and HDP plastic, pretty sure that it works good, no sign of use after many ph13 solution transfersRazz After all my strong acids are also delivered in PEHD and it is safe!
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3rdI
#7 Posted : 9/19/2013 3:07:08 PM

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just because you cant see it doesn't mean its not thereRazz .

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vineseeker
#8 Posted : 9/19/2013 3:10:10 PM

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3rdI wrote:
just because you cant see it doesn't mean its not thereRazz .



yes, but if its not safe then acids could not be stored in PEHD...
My lab retailer says pehd is as good as glass, there is no chance that the acid can get into it etc..
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Albert Einstein

"It's very, very dangerous to lose contact with living nature."
Albert Hofmann
 
3rdI
#9 Posted : 9/19/2013 3:18:07 PM

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yeah sorry, I was just being silly, im sure that some plastics are fine to use, I just like glass
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SnozzleBerry
#10 Posted : 9/19/2013 3:56:15 PM

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vineseeker wrote:
3rdI wrote:
just because you cant see it doesn't mean its not thereRazz .



yes, but if its not safe then acids could not be stored in PEHD...
My lab retailer says pehd is as good as glass, there is no chance that the acid can get into it etc..

But measuring HDPE's tolerance to acids/bases is not the same as measuring its tolerance to non-polar solvents.

Phillips, the company that manufactures HDPE, explicitly says that HDPE is not suitable for use with the NPS being used for extraction.

Quote:
In addition to many individual chemicals (mentioned below), Phillips lists two major classes of chemicals that are not compatible with HDPE: aromatic hydrocarbons, and halogenated hydrocarbons. The basic aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene (a major component of gasoline); others are toluene (also called methylbenzene), and the three xylenes (o-, m-and p-xylene). Others include naphthalene (moth balls), and pdichlorobenzene (also moth balls). These aromatic hydrocarbons "permeate excessively and cause package deformation," says Phillips


Numerous people have seen NPS (including d-limonene) damage HDPE containers.

You can't beat glass. Period.
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benzyme
#11 Posted : 9/19/2013 4:03:12 PM

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dg wrote:
i see plastic in real labs all the time- folks around here think it is reaaally bad however


I have too, usually for storage of aqueous waste.
I've also seen mass spectra of polymers in nonpolar solvents, after brief storage.

Glass trumps plastic, there's not a nonpolar solvent around that will degrade it.
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vineseeker
#12 Posted : 9/19/2013 4:48:09 PM

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Quote:
You can't beat glass. Period.


of course thats true but since this is the pipette talk here, I really cannot believe that any solvent can degrade or do anything with PEHD in lets say (15sec) because that is the amount of time the solvent is in my baster.Smile

Would you agree?
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arcologist
#13 Posted : 9/19/2013 5:06:46 PM

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vineseeker wrote:
Quote:
You can't beat glass. Period.


of course thats true but since this is the pipette talk here, I really cannot believe that any solvent can degrade or do anything with PEHD in lets say (15sec) because that is the amount of time the solvent is in my baster.Smile

Would you agree?


I've used a plastic baster in the past and it seemed to be ok for the short time you need to pipet the solvent, but you need to be sure to immediately clean it thoroughly. Any NP solvent residue will start to degrade the plastics eventually - the bulb on my baster eventually glued itself to the plastic part, and the baster became very brittle and less transparent.
 
SnozzleBerry
#14 Posted : 9/19/2013 5:41:07 PM

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vineseeker wrote:
Quote:
You can't beat glass. Period.


of course thats true but since this is the pipette talk here, I really cannot believe that any solvent can degrade or do anything with PEHD in lets say (15sec) because that is the amount of time the solvent is in my baster.Smile

Would you agree?

Nope. There are actually threads where people have melted their pipettes/basters.

See benzyme's comment and endlessness' thread on this very subject.

Plastic is not safe when dealing with these NPS.

Any degradation of plastics is undesirable.

Why would you risk any exposure to it?

You can't beat glass. Period.
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Entheogenerator
#15 Posted : 9/19/2013 6:46:49 PM

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vineseeker wrote:
of course thats true but since this is the pipette talk here, I really cannot believe that any solvent can degrade or do anything with PEHD in lets say (15sec) because that is the amount of time the solvent is in my baster.Smile

Would you agree?

That's what I thought at one point, then I watched a plastic dropper melt before my eyes in a matter of seconds, because I had tried to siphon my nonpolar solvent with it. That changed my mind pretty quickly. Glass pipettes are very easy to find. Is it really worth the risk of tainting such a miraculous compound? I mean, I certainly don't want to vape any plastic...Confused
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vineseeker
#16 Posted : 9/19/2013 8:54:46 PM

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Ive seen a stb extraction tek here somewhere in which the guy used plastic gallon containers to basify and to extract? I guess thats not the best idea then either ?
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
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"It's very, very dangerous to lose contact with living nature."
Albert Hofmann
 
Parshvik Chintan
#17 Posted : 9/19/2013 9:05:08 PM

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vineseeker wrote:
Ive seen a stb extraction tek here somewhere in which the guy used plastic gallon containers to basify and to extract? I guess thats not the best idea then either ?

hdpe containers are safe regarding acidity and basification (even caustic bases like lye)

the problem comes into play with solvent choice.

though, i believe aliphatic solvents are safe to use with hdpe plastic.
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Vodsel
#18 Posted : 9/19/2013 9:09:30 PM

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The Day Tripper
#19 Posted : 9/19/2013 11:41:30 PM

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hdpe pipettes are fine for alcohols, so long as its just being used to transfer a solvent momentarily.

Limonene, however, will melt and eat away at hdpe.

If your unsure, its best to just use glass.

Glass pipettes really aren't that expensive, and a worthwhile investment. Hell, you might even have one lying around from a tincture bottle or something.

Its not worth the risk imho, for the cost of a glass pipette, or sep funnel. They really aren't that expensive, or hard to find/purchase.

And don't steal stuff from your school, glass pipettes, or even plastic pipettes, are not expensive. Just do it right, and act like an adult and buy your extraction equipment. Do you really need a pipette that bad that you have to resort to stealing it?

Cmon man
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Squirrel
#20 Posted : 9/20/2013 12:18:16 AM

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The Day Tripper wrote:
hdpe pipettes are fine for alcohols, so long as its just being used to transfer a solvent momentarily.

Limonene, however, will melt and eat away at hdpe.

If your unsure, its best to just use glass.

Glass pipettes really aren't that expensive, and a worthwhile investment. Hell, you might even have one lying around from a tincture bottle or something.

Its not worth the risk imho, for the cost of a glass pipette, or sep funnel. They really aren't that expensive, or hard to find/purchase.

And don't steal stuff from your school, glass pipettes, or even plastic pipettes, are not expensive. Just do it right, and act like an adult and buy your extraction equipment. Do you really need a pipette that bad that you have to resort to stealing it?

Cmon man


Ok yes im sorry but they were just lying around and I took one becuase i knew i would need one instead going to look for one
 
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