An inert gas glovebox is a system that allows users to work in inert atmospheres. The gas in a glovebox is either provided from a pure source or is pumped through a series of treatment devices which remove
solvents,
water and
oxygen from the gas.
Copper metal (or some other finely divided metal) is commonly used to remove oxygen, this oxygen removing column is normally regenerated by passing a
hydrogen/
nitrogen mixture through it while it is heated: the
water formed is passed out of the box with the excess hydrogen and nitrogen. It is common to use
molecular sieves to remove water by absorbing it in the molecular sieves' pores. Such a box is often used by
organometallic chemists to transfer dry solids from one container to another container. An alternative to using a glovebox for air sensitive work is to employ Schlenk methods using a
Schlenk line. One disadvantage of working in a glovebox is that organic
solvents will attack the plastic seals. As a result, the box will start to leak and
water and
oxygen can then enter the box. Another disadvantage of a glovebox is that oxygen and water can diffuse through the plastic gloves. Also, coordinating solvents, such as
tetrahydrofuran and
dichloromethane, can bind irreversibly to the copper catalyst, reducing its effectiveness. One way to prolong the lifespan of the glovebox and catalyst is to turn off circulation when using solvents, followed by purging when work involving solvents is finished. Inert atmosphere gloveboxes are typically kept at a higher pressure than the surrounding air, so that any microscopic leaks are mostly leaking inert gas out of the box instead of letting air in. There are now
open source hardware plans for medium performance inert gas glove boxes (e.g., able to reduce oxygen to <20ppm). == Hazardous materials work ==