Glove boxes, as an important laboratory equipment, are widely used in the preparation of materials that require water and oxygen free environmental conditions. However, as the glove box is used for a longer period of time, the purification column inside the glove box will gradually become saturated, and its ability to adsorb water and oxygen will decrease accordingly. Therefore, regular regeneration of the glove box is a key step in ensuring experimental accuracy.
Do you know the detailed steps and precautions for glove box regeneration?
Glove box regeneration is mainly aimed at the purification column inside the glove box. The purification column is mainly responsible for absorbing and removing water and oxygen inside the glove box, keeping the environmental atmosphere inside the glove box dry and oxygen free. As time goes by, the purification column keeps circulating, absorbing water and oxygen, and the purification column will become saturated, like a sponge that has absorbed water. Its adsorption capacity decreases and cannot meet the experimental requirements.At this point, it is necessary to regenerate and reduce the purification column to restore the adsorption capacity of the purification material, so that it can effectively absorb water and oxygen again.
Before regenerating the glove box, it is necessary to prepare regeneration gas, which is usually a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, or hydrogen and argon.
Steps for glove box regeneration operation:
1. Connect the regeneration gas cylinder to the "regeneration gas" interface of the glove box.
2. Shut down the circulation system, shut down other systems, and maintain the operation of the vacuum pump and working gas.
3. Adjust the pressure of the pressure reducing valve secondary gauge to the standard range.
4. Select the "Regeneration" option on the touch screen of the glove box. If you encounter permission issues, you will need to enter a password to access the system settings.
5.The regeneration process of the glove box is divided into three stages, totaling about 20 hours.The first 3 hours are the heating stage of the purification column, and there is no need to introduce regeneration gas. Heat and ventilate for 4-6 hours, then turn on the regeneration gas. The ventilation pressure is generally set between 0.06-0.08Mpa, which can be adjusted according to the situation. Keep the regeneration gas on for 3 hours. 7-20 hours is the cooling and purification column time. After the regeneration is completed, click the "cycle" button on the touch screen and wait for the water oxygen in the glove box to drop below 1ppm. This is the complete regeneration process of the glove box.
When regenerating glove boxes, the following points should be noted:
1.During the entire regeneration process of the glove box, especially in the first 6 hours, it is necessary to closely monitor the display of the regeneration gas flow meter to ensure that the flow rate is within the normal range, and adjust the pressure of the pressure reducing valve in a timely manner according to the actual situation.
2.The glove box regeneration allows for a short period of power outage, with a power outage time of less than 30 minutes, and the regeneration is not manually turned off on the touch screen. After re powering on, the system will automatically continue the regeneration process without manual intervention.
3.If the power outage time exceeds 30 minutes during the glove box regeneration process, the glove box regeneration process needs to be interrupted and restarted.
4.During the regeneration process of the glove box, the purification tower will generate high temperatures.Operators should avoid touching it to prevent burns, and ensure that the purification column cools naturally for at least 10 hours before starting the cycle.
5.If it is found that the regenerated exhaust flow meter is stuck due to solvent corrosion or the airflow is not smooth, the flow meter should be replaced in a timely manner.
Through the detailed introduction of the above steps and precautions, the smooth operation of glove box regeneration can be ensured, thereby extending the service life of the equipment and improving the accuracy and repeatability of the experiment. With the advancement of technology, the regeneration process of glove boxes will become more intelligent and automated, providing researchers with a safer and more convenient experimental environment.
