Summer 2011
camPus Campus Estate Management
For Today’s University and College Estate Managers
y laborator t supplemen
Purity is everything
How to hit the quality threshold in your labs
...
Innovating water purity
Tap to ultrapure in one step • Absolute water purity of up to 18.2 MΩ-cm
• Intelligent Real Time TOC monitoring
• Perfect for your analytical and lifescience applications
Find out more or book your demo at: www.purelabflex.com
cover story
Water, water, everywhere… Getting water for laboratory use is more complicated than switching on a tap – so why not ask the experts?
A
lab isn’t like most other teaching and research spaces within a university, and kitting one out involves many services that simply aren’t required within seminar rooms, lecture theatres or libraries. One of the most critical of these is water. This might sound simple but, in practice, not all water is the same. While mains water is fine for water baths and cooling equipment, it is simply not clean enough for many other uses. Purified water is critical for many applications within a lab, whether it’s
a teaching lab or one used by PhD students and postdocs. For example, it is needed for sample dilution, the preparation of chemical reagents and calibration standards, and the final rinsing of glassware. It’s also used in analytical instruments, to dilute reagents and rinse the system between samples.
Figure 1 Type 1 Ultrapure Water
Type II Purified Water
Figure 1
There are several different grades of water. As a general rule of thumb, the purer it is, the more demanding it is to generate and store, but less of it is needed (see Figure 1). >
Type III Primary Grade Water
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Bench top or wall mounted options to save valuable space Type III, or primary grade, water is used in large volumes for washing glassware, and feeding equipment such as steam generators, autoclaves and purified water systems. Type II pure water is used in moderate volumes in a wide range of general lab applications. These include making up reagents, buffers and media, and analytical techniques such as flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and electrophoresis. It is also used to feed the water polishers to deliver Type I, or ultrapure, water. Type I ultrapure water is used in much smaller volumes, but is critical in applications where even minute quantities of contaminants could ruin results. Analytical techniques such as ICP-MS, HPLC, ion chromatography and DNA sequencing are all heavily reliant on ultrapure water to ensure accurate results are obtained. Polishing is the process in which Type II pure water is made purer still using techniques such as ion exchange, irradiation with ultraviolet light, and ultrafiltration. Typically, the levels of impurities in ultrapure water are minuscule – below one part per billion (ppb). This translates to 99.9999999% pure!
the cost of additional plumbing. However, there are a number of disadvantages. If the central system fails, the entire purified water supply will be affected. Each point-of-use system has to be physically isolated during routine sanitisation to prevent the chemicals from damaging or contaminating the polishers or the lab equipment they feed. In addition, the materials and fittings for the plumbing to the labs can be expensive, and the pipework has to be designed carefully to prevent deadlegs or static areas from forming. The lack of local ‘ownership’ is also an issue. If the second, mains water supply, option is installed, water drawn directly from the mains is fed to each point of use within the lab where it is purified to the standard needed at each bench. As standard plumbing is already in place for sinks and washers, only minimal amounts of extra pipework are required. This has several advantages over a pre-purified central supply. The extra plumbing is cheaper, with minimal requirements for expensive inert piping, or pipework design to avoid deadlegs. Drop feed and return lines to the point of use are unnecessary, and as each user or group of users
has an independent system, the reliance on others to maintain their supply is removed. However, the equipment takes up bench space and potentially running costs of multiple systems could be higher, although this could be offset against the cost of running a central feed system and installing a dedicated loop. The final option, the packaged central lab water system or local loop, is a hybrid between the two approaches, and is becoming increasingly popular. Here, mains water is fed into a pre-purification system, and then out into a suite of labs or even an entire floor within a department. Final polishing is carried out at the point of use where needed.
Figure 2 This is generally a cheaper option, as it combines the equipment savings of central pre-treatment with lower installation costs as the pre-purified loop is local. It can also produce higher purity water that can be used for most applications without further purification, saving cost and space. It is independent of the building’s overall services, and it would be straightforward to incorporate a ‘buffer’ volume in case of system
Designing a lab water treatment system In a university environment, there are three potential scenarios for the design of the system: 1. A pre-purified central supply within the building, with polishing at the point of use 2. M ains water which is purified at the point of use 3. M ains water supplied to a local pre-purified loop and then polished at the point of use With pre-purified central supplies, the mains water is purified by reverse osmosis or deionisation in a central plant room. The water is distributed around the labs, and then further polished to the required level of purity where it is needed. This will almost certainly be the most efficient approach if a sufficiently large prepurified loop is already in place within the building, although there will be 4 I Summer 2011 I Laboratory Supplement
Figure 2
Raw Water Inlet
Raw Water Tank/ Pump Package
Sofener
Carbon Filter
shutdown. It’s also simple to feed high volume flow rates to heavy users of purified water such as autoclaves, sterilisers and glass washers, while minimising use of bench space. However, the pre-purifying system itself will still require lab space.
Design considerations Bench space is often an issue within a university lab, with too much equipment jostling for room. Spacesaving options include mounting the purifier on the wall, or a vertical design bench-top system with a very small footprint. Some units even have all the controls on a hand-held dispenser, so the purifier itself can be sited out of the way. Appropriate materials are essential. Pipework should be made from materials with excellent chemical resistance and low surface leaching properties, and allow minimal gas diffusion. They should also be smooth to minimise the chances of a biofilm building up on the surface enhancing bacterial growth. Contaminant avoidance can be improved by using a vent filter which helps to reduce contamination by atmospheric microorganisms, organic vapours and carbon dioxide. >
Bench Top Polishing Unit Lab1
Bench Top Polishing Unit Lab1 Packaged Central Laboratory System (Containing Pre-Filter, Reverse Osmosis, Storage Tank, Recirculation Pump, Polishing Cylinders, UV and Filter)
Bench Top Polishing Unit Lab1
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Water purity display for absolute confidence as you dispense
Water quality monitoring It is vital that the quality of the purified water is maintained. The main parameters that should be monitored are: l Resistivity (a measure of total inorganic impurities), in MΩ-cm at 25°C l Total organic carbon (TOC) – a measure of organic matter l Total viable bacterial count (TVC) and, when appropriate l Endotoxins – endotoxin units (EU) The theoretical maximum resistivity of ultrapure water is 18.2 MΩ-cm, and a reduction in resistivity indicates a deterioration in the water’s inorganic purity; this usually is associated with the exhaustion of the ion-exchange media which can also imply an increase in the levels of organic contaminants, as weakly charged organic species are displaced from ion exchange resins. This figure is often prominently displayed on the purifier, and for those with a handheld dispenser, it can be seen on the dispensing device.
A modern system may even be able to reduce the use of mains water while increasing the output of purified water by reusing waste water. With careful piping design, the amount of mains water required to feed the purifiers can be reduced by as much as a quarter.
Conclusion for consumable replacement, service, and disposal at end of life. Some companies also offer recycling and disposal services for lab water system consumables; these are recycled or reused wherever possible, reducing the amount of waste that is sent to landfill. Universities’ carbon funds can assist projects that reduce carbon footprints, and water purification systems may fall under this umbrella.
Creating an effective, reliable ultrapure water system for academic laboratories can pose significant challenges. However, a thorough understanding of the labs’ workflows, combined with careful attention to design, installation and operation, will result in a pure water supply that meets even the most demanding specifications. CEM n Register for your pure labwater guide via the website at www.elgalabwater.com
Security Changes in personnel, operating procedures and the lab environment can all compromise the performance of pure water systems. Poor water quality leads to misinterpreted data, and wasted time and effort. Industry’s Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines can provide pointers to best practice. GLP is a method of providing documented evidence that the water purification system is performing as intended. Full validation support packages that meet the needs of university labs are available from the systems’ manufacturers.
Environmental issues Equipment suppliers are increasingly being requested to provide carbon footprint details for their products, and it is no different in the lab world. Any carbon-conscious water purification equipment supplier will be able to provide these details, including a total carbon cost analysis from R&D, manufacturing and distribution, and
Eco-box for safe and easy disposal of laboratory consumables
Hints & tips • Storage of purified water that is not being recirculated should be kept to a minimum in order to limit deterioration in quality and bacterial growth • T o prevent algal growth, avoid using translucent reservoirs and pipework, and avoid installing storage vessels close to direct sunlight or sources of heat • Facilities for sanitisation should be designed into the system to ensure thorough cleaning can be included as part of a routine maintenance programme as required
6 I Summer 2011 I Laboratory Supplement
product and industry news
Tackling the danger of back siphonage The demands on the modern laboratory are such that the laboratory manager must be aware of far more than Health and Safety or COSHH regulations. One area that has come to the fore over recent years is the protection of the mains water supply from contamination through back siphonage. Water inspectors will, if a laboratory is found to be non compliant to AUK3 category 5 regulations close it, until the risk of water contamination has been eliminated. The problem occurs where the cold water feed is either direct from the mains or via a break or header tank that supplies other areas as well as the laboratory taps. A hose left connected to a tap and trailing in a sink of contaminated water could, could in theory create back siphonage introducing contaminents into the mains supply. One way of combating the problem, is installing WRAS approved items as recommended by water inspectors, namely an anti siphon nozzle to every water tap at risk. This will provide the necessary protection by introducing an air break thus eliminating the possibility of back flow. Our anti-syphon nozzle is the only model that is fully approved by WRAS for AUK 3 Cat 5 available in the UK.
remotely interested?
Astell Scientific has launched 3G Remote Wireless Support. The system uses a 3G sim card and the latest wireless technology to link to Astell Scientific’s UK based technical support team. At the operator’s request, Astell Scientific’s technicians can take control of the colour touch screen unit as if they were actually on site, allowing them to diagnose faults and program new cycles without the delay or cost of an engineer’s visit. If a physical fault is detected and an engineer’s visit is necessary, then he will be aware of the problem and the parts required in advance, minimising time on site. 3G Remote Wireless Support is available as an option on all Astell Scientific autoclaves and effluent decontamination systems and is particularly useful in situations where traditional infrastructure is not available, as well as instances where an engineer’s visit would be impractical or time consuming. Anywhere where there is a 3G connection, Astell Scientific’s 3G Remote Wireless Support is just one click away. n For more information go to www.astell.com
When used in combination with the correct taps one potential area of stress for the laboratory manager can be easily eliminated. Another area that obviously causes concern is the provision of personal safety equipment. Nowadays a tube on a water tap or saline bottle eyewashes are not considered ideal due to the risk of further injury or running out of suitable flushing media until qualified medical help can arrive. Permanently plumbed apparatus ensures adequate safe protection at all times without the need for constant replacement of out of date equipment. n For further information visit www.arboles.co.uk
Cambridge labs picks safety storage cabinets by Asecos When Whiffen Laboratory in Cambridge University’s Chemistry department wanted to replace its existing single skinned cabinets in turned to Asecos. The university wanted to optimise the use of existing space, while minimising interruption of daily activities in the laboratory. Asecos safety storage cabinets (according to BS EN 14470-1) were installed. State-of-the-art Type 90 models wereselected, with bespoke sizes manufactured to fit the existing spaces. A furnace test (according to BS EN 14470-1) was executed by an authorised material, testing insitute to certify EN-conformity. Laboratory Manager Richard Turner: “Aasecos listened carefully to our specific requirements and were able to design a high quality bespoke cabinet to suit these. They kept us informed on a regular basis of the project development and delivered on time in a highly professional and competent manner. We were really pleased with the way they treated us as customers and would anticipate giving them future business following this experience.” n For more information go to www.asecos.com
Laboratory Supplement I Summer 2011 I 7
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