I really want some phenol but also fear that the smell would stay on me for a long time after using it in experiments. I don't want to let my friends
smell that weird (unfamiliar to ordinary people) odour or know that I play with chemistry. So I want to know how to get rid of that smell (at least
reduce the smell to human-undetectable levels) prior to buying some. Thank you.
[Edited on 12/09/18 by fusso]DrP - 12-9-2018 at 03:23
Use it in the fume cupboard. Wear a lab coat and gloves. Wash after use and change your clothes before going out.
Others might not even notice it. So what if they do?
Will deodorant mask the smell
[Edited on 12-9-2018 by DrP]Heptylene - 12-9-2018 at 05:06
Phenol being soluble in water, washing your clothes and taking a shower should be sufficient to get rid of the smell, IF the smell is even a problem
in the first place.macckone - 12-9-2018 at 14:13
If anyone notices after a shower and a change of clothes, you spilled some chloraseptic. The active ingredient is phenol.Atrum - 12-9-2018 at 21:58
I work with phenol everyday. I have grown to like that smell. My lab mates all think i'm crazy lol.
If you are really concerned about it. Just use some ethanol on the spots you spilled on your self. It is much more soluble in it.fusso - 13-9-2018 at 00:23
Would phenol smell penetrate gloves and stick to hands?
Depends on the gloves and how much you get on them. Going by what others have said above I would think that it shouldn't be an issue. Keep up standard
good practices (i.e. - don't pour it over your gloves just to test the theory) and you should be OK. The smell shouldn't stick and it isn't that bad
anyway compared to the smell of some other chems.
Decent gloves should stop the penetration of light splashes.... but it isn't advisable to soak your gloved hand in the solvent for example. Waffles SS - 13-9-2018 at 02:43
Wash your clothes and your hands with Sodium carbonate solution.Phenol is more soluble in alkaline solutionMrHomeScientist - 13-9-2018 at 05:38
Standard gloves will likely provide little protection from phenol; see the attached glove chemical resistance chart.
Standard gloves will likely provide little protection from phenol; [Edited on 9-13-2018 by MrHomeScientist]
exactly - like I said - if splashed lightly they will help by stopping the direct contact - you can take it off quickly before it soaks through and
put another glove on.... but don't dip your fingers in it and leave the solvent on the glove while you continue to wear it.macckone - 2-10-2018 at 19:59
Looking at the actual ratings for phenol, only nitrile fails completely.
Neoprene and natural rubber are still ok.
With PVC being the best.
A multi-layer would probably be even better.
Clearly the best solution is don't splash or spill chemicals on your protective gear or skin.
