I DON'T HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH LABORATORY CENTRIFUGES, BUT IN INDU STRY CENTRIFUGES HANDLING FLAMMABLE SOLVENTS ARE VERY COMMON, AND THEY ARE INER TED (USUALLY WITH NITROGEN) TO PREVENT A FIRE OR EXPLOSION, AND USUALLY INSTRU MENTED TO ASSURE THAT THE INERTING WILL WORK. i WROTE AN ARTICLE ON THIS A FEW YE ARS AGO, WHICH APPEARS IN PROCES SAFETY PROGRESS. YOU CAN DO A GOOGLE SEARCH ON "INERTING OF CENTRIFUGES' AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THE REF ERENCE TO MY ARTICLE.

 

I BELIEVE THAT LABORATORY CENTRIFUGES CAN PROBABLY ALSO BE INERT ED, SIMILARLY TO INDUSTRIAL ONES.

 

STAN GROSSEL

PROCESS SAFETY & DESIGN CONSULTANT

 

One of our Scientists came across a piece of information in the manual of a centrifuge he was using stating use of solvents in the centrifuge is not allowed.  Currently nobody makes an explosion proof centrifuge (the re have been models in the past). 

Now I'9m pretty sure plenty of flammable solvents are put into centri fuges, so the question is this:

Has anyone experienced a problem with flammable solvents catching on fire or explosions in centrifuges, how common is this?

Anyone have ways to mitigate this if it is a problem?  < /P>

Thanks

Carole Herriott
Enviromental Health and Safety Technician
Weyerhaeuser Technology Center
32901 Weyerhaeuser Way S
Mailstop: 1B22(office)
Federal Way, WA 98003
(253) 924-5401 (office)
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