Cuvettes
Brand UV Cuvettes
The main cuvettes used within teaching labs are Brand-UV cuvettes which are robust plastic cuvettes offering a wide wavelength range and good solvent compatibility.
Specifications
Wavelength Range
1000 - 230 nm
Class
Macro
Volume
2.5 - 4 mL
Pathlength
1 cm
Cost (each)
£0.20
Solvent Compatibility
Excellent
Water
Good
Acetic Acid (96%), Acetone, Acetonitrile, Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Ethanol, Formaldehyde (40%), Hydrochloric Acid (37%), Isopropanol, Methanol, Sodium Hydroxide solution (12M), Sulfuric Acid (98%)
Marginal
Diethyl Ether, Hexane, Petroleum Ether, Toluene
Poor
Dichloromethane
Very Poor
Chloroform
Quartz Cuvettes
A small number of matched pair quartz cuvettes are kept for specialist use. These are easily damaged and very expensive and should only be used where absolutely nescessary. Quartz cuvettes offer improved transmission at very low wavelengths (190 - 230 nm) and have greater solvent compatibility.
Specifications
Wavelength Range
1000 - 190 nm
Class
Macro
Volume
2.5 - 4 mL
Pathlength
1 cm
Cost (Pair)
£800
Micro Cuvettes
Teaching labs doesn't stock small volume cuvettes, but cuvettes for a range of volumes for a 1 cm pathlength are commercially available and can be ordered in for specific projects on request. These are available in UV plastic (preferred), PMMA, PS or Quartz (very expensive).
Macro
2.5 -4 mL
Semi-Micro
1.5 - 3 mL
Ultra-Micro
70 - 150 µL
Polystyrene
Not routinely stocked, but can be ordered in for specific projects on request.
Solvent Compatibility
Excellent
Sodium Hydroxide solution (12M), Water
Marginal
Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Hydrochloric Acid (37%), Isopropanol
Poor
Acetic Acid (96%), Acetone, Acetonitrile, Chloroform, Dichloromethane, Diethy Ether, Ethanol, Formaldehye (40%), Hexane, Methanol, Petroleum Ether, Sulfuric Acid (98%), Toluene
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
Not routinely stocked, but can be ordered in for specific projects on request.
Solvent Compatibility
Excellent
Hexane, Water
Marginal
Isopropanol
Poor
Acetic Acid (96%), Acetone, Acetonitrile, Chloroform, Dichloromethane, Diethy Ether, Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Ethanol, Formaldehye (40%), Hydrochloric Acid (37%), Methanol, Petroleum Ether, Sodium Hydroxide solution (12M), Sulfuric Acid (98%), Toluene