A glove box is a sealed container used to manipulate materials where a separate atmosphere is desired. They are commonly used to protect lab workers from hazardous materials or to protect chemicals and materials that may be sensitive to air or water vapor.
Glove boxes may be used under either positive or negative pressure. Glove boxes operated under positive pressure usually contain materials sensitive to outside contaminates such as air or water vapor. Exposure to outside contaminates can lead to degradation or a violent reaction with these compounds. Negative pressure glove boxes are used to protect workers and are used for hazardous materials such as toxic gases or pathogens.
Choosing the right glove box is essential depending on the needs of the research laboratory. Below are three factors that should be taken into consideration when helping a laboratory choose the right glove box for their lab.
Environmental Factors
- Climate: Consider the local climate in the Northeast to ensure the glove box functions optimally in the given conditions.
- Exhaust Ventilation: If the laboratory deals with harmful fumes or gases, prioritize glove boxes with effective exhaust ventilation systems.
Application-Specific Requirements
- Pharmaceutical Research: If your focus is on pharmaceutical research, prioritize glove boxes with HEPA or ULPA filters for stringent hazard control.
- Material Science: For material science applications, controlled atmosphere glove boxes with precise atmosphere control are essential.
Compliance and Certification
- ISO Class 1 Barrier: Ensure that the glove box meets ISO Class 1 standards to guarantee a high level of protection.
Laboratory glove boxes come in various types, each designed to meet specific research and safety requirements. Here are different types of laboratory glove boxes:
- Moisture Isolators and Barrier Isolators
- Controlled Atmosphere Glove Boxes (Inert Gas Glove Boxes or Dry Boxes)
- Anaerobic Glove Boxes
- Biohazard Glove Boxes
- Vacuum Glove Boxes
- Temperature-Controlled Glove Boxes
- Multi-Chamber Glove Boxes
A glove box should be installed by a qualified vendor. The glove box must have design features that prevent over-pressurizations, spills from solvent dispensing systems, and fire. Over-pressurization can cause a breach in the glovebox, endangering the user, damaging other equipment, spreading hazardous contaminants, and letting oxygen and moisture into the glovebox.
Site Selection
The selected location should have a “room” volume that is significantly larger than the glove box interior volume. The room must be well ventilated (5 to 6x room volume atmosphere change per hour); temperature between +15°C to +30°C; dry atmosphere (max 65 % relative humidity). This is especially important during a purging procedure or when opening an active system (e.g., antechambers). All exhaust should be vented through an adequate disposal or ventilation system. The glove box should be placed near a fume hood for gas venting, along with connections for inert gas (Nitrogen, Ar), power, and potentially a vacuum.
Ventilation
The output should be piped directly into a vented fume hood or a specialized ventilation stack. If radioactive material is being used within a glove box, the ventilation stack must contain a filter appropriate for the material exiting the glove box.
Surface Stability
The glove box must be placed on a level, flat surface (often with an anti-slip mat) or a dedicated heavy-duty stand that can support up to 400 lbs.
Ergonomics & Workflow
The glove box should be at a height set for seated or standing operation, allowing comfortable posture and minimizing awkward movements. It should be positioned for easy loading/unloading and access to pass-throughs. The workspace should be kept organized to avoid clutter and facilitate task completion.
Gas Piping
All gases piped into the glove box should be compatible with the gases being used for the system.
Maintenance may require certified professional vendors especially for the comprehensive maintenance. Contact equipment manufacturer to coordinate. The basic maintenance guidance is available in the manufacturer operation manual, and can include items such as but not limited to:
- Inspect Gloves/Glove Ports/Windows
- Feedthroughs and KF Fittings
- Working Gas Supply and Pipework
- Vacuum System Pipework
- Pressure Decay Test
- System Functions Check
- Replacement HEPA Filters
- Replace Small Antechamber O-Rings
- Replace Large Antechamber O-Rings
Transport and relocation of the glovebox should be carried out in presence of certified technician and EHS recommendations. The room temperature should be between 15C and 30C, dry and well ventilated. The certified technician must vent, purge, and seal the glovebox per the manufacturer’s recommendations prior to transporting the glovebox to its new location.
If not equipped with stand, destination location must be a stable flat platform surface with appropriate load rating, and the glovebox must be centered and secured without overhang. Provide clearance per the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the glove port working space and antechamber areas are accessible. The following requirements must be met to relocate the glovebox:
- The selected location must have the minimum room volume identified in the owner's manual to ensure the volume of the room is appropriate for the glovebox’s size.
- The location must be well ventilated because of escaping gases during purging procedure or when opening gloveboxes, or exhaust must be provided when required by EHS because of glovebox procedure and chemicals used.
- Before opening a glovebox in its new location, break the seal on one glove port to allow for the slow equalization of the interior glovebox atmosphere with the room ambient air; ensure the glove port is sealed prior to glovebox operations.
- Purge room air from glovebox prior to starting glovebox operations.
If the user decides that it is not possible to adhere to all the above, the user must contact the manufacturer and EHS for the support to have additional safety controls.
