Procedures for removing valves from lecture bottles Hazards Removal of a lecture bottle valve can present a significant hazard if the cylinder is not fully discharged or if there are hazardous chemical residues present. Cylinders that held flammable gases may still present a fire or explosion hazard, while those that held corrosive, poisonous, or reactive gases may still have sufficient residues to present a hazard to the person working with the cylinder. Personal Protective Equipment Eye protection and gloves should be worn. In most cases, nitrile gloves should be sufficient to protect against exposure to residues. If you are working with a cylinder that contained a highly reactive or highly toxic gas such as hyrdogen cyanide, carbon monoixde or arsine, additional precautions will be necessary.
Procedures Ensure that the cylinder is empty.
Visually inspect the valve to see if there is an obvious physical defect or corrosion that may have affected the valve. If there is a defect or corrosion problem, do not attempt to manipulate the valve. Rather cap or plug the outlet and contact DEHS for advice. If the valve appears to be safely operable, place the lecture bottle in a fume hood and carefully open the valve. Allow the cylinder to set for a few minutes to assure that the pressure inside the cylinder is at the ambient level.