Dealing with a blocked burette

A general discussion and Q & A forum.
Post Reply
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Merilyn1 »

Okay, don't ask me how it happened, but it appears that there is a piece of polystyrene stuck in the tip of a burette! Any suggestions how to remove it? I know that acetone will dissolve polystyrene, but I certainly don't want to run that through the burette.
User avatar
noona
Posts: 900
Joined: 11 May 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: Greystanes High School
Suburb: Greystanes
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by noona »

Try strong Acid hcl might work
Noona
Lab Manager
Greystanes High School
Beresford Rd
Greystanes 2145
8868 9113
ROSALIE.CASSAR@det.nsw.edu.au
User avatar
Loopy
Posts: 591
Joined: 08 Jun 2006, 10:00
School: Mater Dei Catholic College
Suburb: Wagga Wagga
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Loopy »

Have you tried sticking a fine piece of wire up the end?
Lou P.
Learner Lab Technician
Wagga Wagga
NSW
curie
Posts: 360
Joined: 27 May 2010, 09:42
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by curie »

I find a fine piece of fuse wire often helps:)
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Merilyn1 »

I tried the piece of wire, but found it is not polystyrene but something more solid and the wire won't penetrate it. I'm trying to soak it but because it is blocked, I can't get liquid to flow through. Currently I have it just standing in some water, see what happens.
User avatar
rae
Posts: 1045
Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley College
Suburb: Burradoo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by rae »

Do you use NaOH in your burettes? If so its probably that salt build up you get when NaOH is in glass. What about warm to hot water and soak?
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Merilyn1 »

That's what I was thinking Rae. It's the first time since I've been here that we have used all the burettes we have, so I don't know how long it has been sitting there nor what has been used in it.
User avatar
Narelle01
Posts: 1122
Joined: 30 Nov 2009, 13:28
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Narelle01 »

I used a piece of fishing twine in mine, i thought I was the ants pants LOL

Very fine, and didn't break the tip...unlike the probe i used last year - that wasnt fine enough...whoops!
User avatar
rae
Posts: 1045
Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley College
Suburb: Burradoo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by rae »

I do flush mine out with hot water after each use and before I store them. I've touch wood never had a problem.
User avatar
sunray18
Posts: 1488
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 12:30
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by sunray18 »

Backwash the burette -
Turn it upside down, point the end into a bucket or similar,put tubing on the tap so you can cause a high pressure jet of water to go through the tip.. and it often will flush the obstruction away.
Use for pipettes also
If it doesn't - then = throw the burette out.
I know that sounds wasteful, but think about how much time you are spending on it and how much that equates to in your wage dollar terms , and often a new piece of equipment is the most efficient use of the money.
I don't use hot water, ever, in burettes or pipettes.. maybe because I worked in Research for many years with A grade glassware - in case it causes distortions in the glass and hence the markings.
Merilyn1
Posts: 1476
Joined: 12 Mar 2013, 08:10
Job Title: Labbie
School: Wollondilly Anglican College
Suburb: Tahmoor
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by Merilyn1 »

(Now I'm in the right post :blush2: )

Success! :clap3: Soaked the tip in water overnight and it is now running fine. Simple!
User avatar
noona
Posts: 900
Joined: 11 May 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: Greystanes High School
Suburb: Greystanes
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by noona »

My GA made me a plastic pipe holder for mine using plastic down pipe on a wooden base with handles and with tiny holes around the bottem of the pipe to let the water out and air in. :thumbup:
I wash them and open the valve and put them in the pipe upside down till they are dry works every time. :D
Noona
Lab Manager
Greystanes High School
Beresford Rd
Greystanes 2145
8868 9113
ROSALIE.CASSAR@det.nsw.edu.au
User avatar
lizzieb
Posts: 983
Joined: 04 Jul 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Labbie
State/Location: NSW

Re: Dealing with a blocked burette

Post by lizzieb »

We have a piece of 300mm diameter poly (length approx 100mm longer than burettes) with poly stopper attached at one end to act as base. It can be left in the deep sink or in a bucket to soak or rinse burettes if necessary.
Liz

Life keeps getting better every day!
Post Reply