The Role of The Fume Hood

Fume hood is a very important equipment in the laboratory, and its main functions can be summarized as follows:

First, protect the safety and health of experimental personnel

Isolation of harmful gases, dust and microorganisms: Through the forced exhaust system, the fume hood will discharge harmful gases, dust and microorganisms in the laboratory, effectively isolating these harmful substances and preventing them from causing harm to the experimenters.

Provide a safe experimental environment: The fume hood provides a relatively closed and safe operating space for the experimentalists to reduce the direct contact between the experimentalists and harmful substances.

Second, protect the laboratory environment

Prevent the spread of contaminated substances: the fume hood can prevent the spread of contaminated substances generated during the experiment to the laboratory, thereby protecting the overall environment of the laboratory.

Reduce environmental pollution: Some advanced fume hoods are also equipped with exhaust gas treatment systems, which can further treat the exhaust gas and reduce the impact on the environment.

Third, assist the experiment

Provide experimental operation space: The working area of the fume hood provides enough space for the experimental personnel to carry out various experimental operations.

Equipped with auxiliary facilities: some fume hoods are also equipped with auxiliary facilities such as power sockets and gas pipelines, which is convenient for experimental personnel to carry out various experimental operations.

Fourth, specific functions

Release function: The fume hood should have a mechanism for diluting the harmful gases generated inside to the outside of the cabinet by absorbing the gases outside the cabinet.

Non-backflow function: The fume hood should ensure that harmful gases do not flow backward from the inside of the fume hood into the room.

Isolation function: The front of the fume hood should have a non-sliding glass window to separate the inside and outside of the fume hood.

Supplementary function: When discharging harmful gases, the fume hood should have a channel or alternative device for drawing fresh air from the outside.

Control wind speed function: In order to prevent the escape of harmful gases in the fume hood, it is necessary to control a certain suction speed. Usually non-toxic pollutants are 0.25~0.38m/s, toxic or dangerous harmful substances are 0.4~0.5m/s, highly toxic or a small amount of radioactivity is 0.5~0.6m/s, gaseous substances are 0.5m/s, granular matter is 1m/s.

Heat resistance and acid and alkali corrosion resistance: the table top, lining plate, side plate and selected water nozzle, gas nozzle, etc. of the fume hood should have anti-corrosion function to meet the needs of various experiments.

To sum up, the fume hood plays a crucial role in the laboratory, which can not only protect the safety and health of the experimental personnel, but also protect the laboratory environment and assist the experiment. Therefore, the reasonable selection and correct use of fume hoods in the laboratory is very necessary.