It is the University of Rochester. And the technology really is different. No one was more adamant than we would not use ductless hoods than I was. (Just ask the salesman who first approached me concerning these hoods - he thought he was going to be shot for wasting our time). I truly understand the resistance to their use. But when I learned about these, I realized we finally had a viable option to be environmentally friendly and safe. As safety professionals, it really is worth learning about what is available out there. You do have to take a careful look at how they will be used. You also need to be careful how you design your lab and your research in order to maximize filter life and maintain safety. For new installations, they pay for themselves the day they are put in. If you already have ductwork and controls in place, then the payback is more like 2 - 3 years.
In addition to Rochester Institute of Technology, Butler University installed Green Fume Hoods in their Organic Labs. My understanding from Jo Wagner, lab manager, is that they are delighted with how they worked this past academic year. Ask Jo.Green Fume Hood from Erlab (www.erlab.com) offer a wonderful cost saving alternative. The time has come to reconsider filtered fume hood. ... Jim KaufmanIn a message dated 10/10/2012 12:26:19 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**listserv.med.cornell.edu writes:Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2012 23:35:08 -0400
From: Ken Simolo <simolo**At_Symbol_Here**CHEM.CHEM.ROCHESTER.EDU>
Subject: Re: Advice on our new science building
We did not find a ductless fume hood suitable for use in our undergraduate labs until the Green Hoods came along. These hoods take filtered fume hoods to a whole new level.
They have measured the absorption capacities of thousands of chemicals and published their results. Methylene Chloride is one of the lesser trapped chemicals in the Green Hood. After 672 g have been absorbed by the filters in a 6' hood, methylene chloride will pass through the first set of filters and set off the chemical alarm. If you violate protocols and continue to use the hood, after an additional 672 g of methylene chloride have been absorbed by the second set of filters, you will get exposure in the lab. But 672 g of methylene chloride is a lot of filter exposure for an undergraduate hood, no less twice that amount. After 2 1/2 semesters of undergraduate organic lab use, we have yet to have any chemicals breakthrough the first set of filters. One has to be very careful where you use these hoods and how you design the lab but they definitely have many appropriate uses.
Ken
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