Sulaiman
International Hazard
Posts: 3692
Registered: 8-2-2015
Location: 3rd rock from the sun
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How to safely open HDPE bottles with cap inserts.?
Most liquids that I receive are in HDPE bottles with this type of cap and insert.
They mostly seal well, but opening them has presented a couple of hazards:
Internal vapour pressure can POP the insert out when the cap is unscrewed.
Not necessarily immediately, sometimes there is a delay,
...A wet insert and little drops of liquid travel in the general direction of my face.
(So I remove the cap with an old cloth covering the cap and top of bottle)
I pull the inserts out using a fingernail, so I often get small quantities of liquid on my finger.
Gloves can be punctured between my fingernail and the bottle/insert gap.
(This is my main concern)
Anyone got a tip/trick/tool that they can suggest. ?
I wear eye protection (almost) always,
unless staining, toxic or hazardous chemicals are in use, I work without gloves
[file]103277[/file]
CAUTION : Hobby Chemist, not Professional or even Amateur
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paulll
Hazard to Others
Posts: 112
Registered: 1-5-2018
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Mood: It's fine. Really.
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Maybe look up, "spudger," on ebay or the like? Sold dirt-cheap as pry tools for electronics, but perfect for the job, as long as whatever you're
opening is compatible with nylon. They're commonly in steel, too, but a bit more hit-and-miss as to whether you're getting a pry-tool, or a
butter-knife...
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Precipitates
Hazard to Others
Posts: 130
Registered: 4-12-2023
Location: SE Asia
Member Is Offline
Mood: Acid hungry
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An old small knife - but yeah they can be annoying at times
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jackchem2001
Harmless
Posts: 35
Registered: 2-6-2024
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This will not help with chemicals you are receiving, but the pressure buildup in storage is because if you add the liquid, cap, and store immediately,
the liquid will not be in equilibrium with its vapour in the container and so will vapourise over time until this equilibrium is reached. To fix this,
I recommend adding the liquid, loosely capping the container, shaking, venting etc (like a separatory funnel) until there is no sign of pressure
buildup (air has now been displaced by the vapour of the liquid). Adding the liquid while hot and doing this process would pull a vacuum which I
assume could be helpful for storing volatile materials. Note that this will not stop pressure buildup for materials that decompose into gases during
storage (e.g. HNO3).
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