Contaminated glassware??

[JKDMan]

So my wife broke on my test tubes by dropping them on the floor so I used some glassware from the kitchen to do some API nitrate nitrite and ammonia tests. After those are washed can they be used for food again

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So my wife broke on my test tubes by dropping them on the floor so I used some glassware from the kitchen to do some API nitrate nitrite and ammonia tests. After those are washed can they be used for food again

I would not recommend it. Some kits have toxic ingredients like cadmium (maybe they have replaced that by now)

 

[JKDMan]

I would not recommend it. Some kits have toxic ingredients like cadmium (maybe they have replaced that by now)

That's what I was thinking but it's glassware for my kids stuff so I was hoping.. lol..

Randy. Besides being a reef chemist are you an actual chemist too?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

That's what I was thinking but it's glassware for my kids stuff so I was hoping.. lol..

Randy. Besides being a reef chemist are you an actual chemist too?

Yes. My professional background is here on linked in:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyholmesfarley/

 

[JKDMan]

Yes. My professional background is here on linked in:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyholmesfarley/

Me too ..

 

[GlassMunky]

I would not recommend it. Some kits have toxic ingredients like cadmium (maybe they have replaced that by now)

Why would that matter for a non-porous material like glass?

 

[GlassMunky]

Why would that matter for a non-porous material like glass?

I was under the impression that people used borosilicate glass in science for its resistance to chemicals and erosion by acids or bases.

 

[JKDMan]

I was under the impression that people used borosilicate glass in science for its resistance to chemicals and erosion by acids or bases.

We do in the lab.. I used glass containers at home..

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Why would that matter for a non-porous material like glass?

Things stick to glass, both on the molecular level and as particulates or dried films.

Could you possibly clean it enough? Certainly. Might someone not clean it enough if you told them you could drink from your laboratory glassware? Also likely yes.

It is a standard laboratory safety rule, and there is no reason your home laboratory should be exempt:

Safe Glassware Use | Environmental Health and Safety | Marquette University

"Never use laboratory glassware to serve food or drinks. "

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Me too ..

Nice. What do you do?

 

[JKDMan]

Nice. What do you do?

Analytical for a pharmaceutical company... how about you? I saw your LinkedIn link but I forgot my login info lol

 

[NowGlazeIT]

I am cautious when disposing of testing fluids. I wouldn’t want that stuff on my dishes so I throw it in the trash each time.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Analytical for a pharmaceutical company... how about you? I saw your LinkedIn link but I forgot my login info lol

I'm in pharma too. I co-invented a couple of polymeric pharmaceuticals (sevelamer carbonate and sevelamer hydroxhloride; colesevelam). I presently lead discovery at a small company to deliver peptide drugs orally.

 

[JKDMan]

I'm in pharma too. I co-invented a couple of polymeric pharmaceuticals (sevelamer carbonate and sevelamer hydroxhloride; colesevelam). I presently lead discovery at a small company to deliver peptide drugs orally.

My current job isn't that interesting.. quality control.. my old job I worked for millipore sigma, extracting isotopically labeled aminos,lipids,and sugars from blue green algae grown with isotopic media. That was much more interesting work.. didn't pay as well tho