Notes on Aerosol Handling

• All equipment that comes in contact with a sample should be clean. To clean apparatus
  1. Wash in a mild detergent solution
  2. Rinse with deionised water
  3. Clean heavily contaminated items by placing them in the ultrasonic bath containing deionised water
  4. Allow to air dry
• Samples should never be handled directly but using tweezers or spatula. Always use clean tweezers or spatula for each sample.
• To avoid indirect contamination use disposable nitrile gloves when handling items that will come into contact with samples.
• Decanting material from one vessel to another should be done in the fume cupboard over a cleaned tray (in case of spillage). Eye protection and gloves should be worn when samples are transferred.
• Some other tips: Mettler Toledo laboratory skills pamphlet.

Cleaning up powder spills

• Small spills of fine powders should be cleaned up promptly, taking care not to generate airborne dust.
• Where possible, spills should be cleaned using a damp disposable cloth or paper towel.
• Do not use dry brushes, sweeping or compressed air to remove fine powders, as these can resuspend particles into the air.
• Wear appropriate PPE, including a laboratory coat, eye protection and disposable gloves.
• For larger spills, or where significant airborne dust has been generated, stop work, exit the laboratory and inform the laboratory supervisor before attempting cleanup.