Glove box systems their uses and Importance

Glove box systems can help maintain a sterile environment when working with reactive chemicals and hazardous substances. It’s essential to avoid contact between the hazards and people or things you want to protect from exposure. The use of Glove Box Systems can provide this clean separation by completely encircling your work area with a waterproof barrier. Gloves are used when handling the substances inside, which reduces hand-to-mouth contact (which can cause many diseases).

The primary purpose is to provide a clean atmosphere, or “flow” of air, around the work area. This contains the dispensed chemicals and prevents contaminants from entering the room or exposure of the operator. The glove box can also be used to contain hazardous materials, such as radioactive materials or waste. Glove boxes have become a modern-day requirement for every lab.

Structure and Components

A glove box is composed of a cabinet, plastic gloves, and boxes to hold the materials. It has an exhaust system (usually HEPA filtered) that pulls air out of the work area, directs it through filters, and then into the room. The glove box is usually made from metal or plastic, with a transparent window of Plexiglas or glass. This gives you visibility of your work area, enabling you to keep track of what’s happening inside while not exposing yourself to the dangers.

 The operator can don gloves through openings in the sides of the system, so they do not have to open any doors. The chemicals are dispensed into the system using a laminar flow chemical fume hood connected to the system with an inlet pipe. This prevents contamination of the work area before it enters the box and keeps airflow laminar inside the glove box until it reaches the workspace.

Applications and Benefits of a Glove Box System

Glove Box systems are commonly used in laboratories where hazardous chemicals are used. However, they are also valuable for industry, healthcare, and military settings. Glove boxes can be attached to a fume hood by an adapter to provide the same benefits without chemicals being carried into the room.

• Pharmacies – The main reason to use a glove box is to help properly dispose of medications. Pharmaceuticals are responsible for a large portion of product recalls because they are only labelled with the most significant amount of highly concentrated ingredients that they contain. Therefore, as medications are often recalled, the requirement is put in place for people to dispose of them properly, including putting them into a proper disposal box. This ensures that it isn’t mixed with other materials and helps reduce exposure to the product and handler.
• Hospitals – Hospitals also use glove boxes as a safer way to handle hazardous materials. When a patient enters the hospital, they are not allowed to contact any medical supplies or products they need. With this, medical staff can utilise protective gloves, which can then ensure that they do not come into contact with any harmful substances. For example, in the Covid-19 pandemic, all the samples for the coronavirus test are taken with the glove box system to ensure the virus does not spread.
• Industrial Settings – The workplace of many industries are filled with hazardous chemicals and objects, which makes it essential for industrial workers to be protected from exposure to these substances. Direct contact with such hazardous chemicals can be very effective for health. Therefore, the need for a safe environment in these settings is critical, and glove boxes help fill this need.

Glove boxes are used in many settings and have many applications. They are carefully designed to keep chemicals isolated and out of the surrounding environment and safely handle dangerous substances. Gloves can also protect you from skin contact with hazardous chemicals. Though they are not infallible, they are essential for ensuring clean work areas. The gloves and the inside of the box are then vacuumed to create a breathable environment.

A glove box is not a substitute for proper ventilation or personal protective equipment (such as gloves). Always wear gloves when working with contaminated materials to protect you from many examples of infectious diseases caused by various microorganisms. Your gloves should be changed frequently and often washed after completing your shifts.