GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A non-metallic clean room used in the analysis of ultra-trace elements and radioactive isotopes using equipment such as ICP-MS mass spectrometry for the analysis of U, Th isotopes and ultra-trace elements in biological tissues and fluids, semiconductor materials...
Clean labs use HEPA filters to cleanroom standards but with added elements to avoid any metal components in the room. Wherever unavoidable, these parts should be coated with an HDPE primer or a specialized epoxy coating.
The main operating clean room uses air circulation technology to ensure Class 10,000 to 100,000 standards. Air moves from a HEPA filter to the work area and exits the clean room without any interference.
The operating chamber located in the clean room meets CLASS 100 standards. The entire operating chamber system ensures class 100 or better. HEPA filters consist of thin, highly porous fiber sheets. Both the pre-filter and the HEPA filter must be housed in a wooden or non-metal frame.
NON METALLIC CLEAN ROOM
A clean room system consisting of Class 100 or better operating chambers housed in a compact Class 10,000 clean room. The room has separate exhaust and exhaust air supply systems for operating chambers and rooms. For the working chambers, air is supplied separately through front and rear HEPA filters with separate blower systems.
The room is cleaned and the air circulates with 10% fresh air circulating at a time. For the work chambers, air is supplied separately through pre-filters and HEPA filters with separate blowers. Therefore, it is a one-way blowing system without any recirculation to ensure complete escape of acid vapors in the working chambers. Class 100 shall be maintained in the operating room at all times.
The materials used in the construction of rooms and workstations are essentially metal-free because metal parts will begin to corrode rapidly with the use of acids and these particles will cause pose a much more serious problem than air particles. The working chambers are made of wood with a special melamine coating. HEPA filters are not made of metal frames. The motor is epoxy painted and the blower has a polypropylene housing with polypropylene wheels, lights and is kept in a non-metallic socket. The faucet and sink supply are also made of polypropylene. The bolts and nuts are made of HDPE and wherever metal bolts are required, they are coated with epoxy paint. The door is made of wood and the handle is plastic. The false ceiling is made of wood and the entire room is painted with anti-fungal epoxy paint. The sharp corners have been created into smooth curves to create a continuous flow of clean air and avoid dust separation in these corners. The main blower supplies air to the room and the separate air conditioner is located in a separate technical room. The main air blower has a casing made of epoxy painted FRP. The air duct into the clean room will be made of HDPE, with appropriate insulation. All possible precautions have been taken to prevent the generation of metal particles from the construction materials of the room. In other cases, separate technology is needed to ensure no metal is generated in the clean room.
Sample solutions will only be transported in fully sealed Teflon containers to the laboratory. Sample introduction to the instrument shall be performed in a working chamber below class 100. The air flow rate is maintained at a minimum of 20 m/min. Air quality in rooms and working spaces should be checked periodically. The general clean room area is class 10,000 and the work room is class 100. Users, analysts or anyone entering the clean room must wear clean room uniforms with special garments.
A positive attitude of the user working in a clean environment is essential. There must be constant awareness of problems that may be developing, e.g. corrosion of a part or unused materials and equipment in the laboratory, which could lead to contamination problems. next infection. It is best to deal with them at an earlier stage to avoid affecting a series of related analyses. Proper training procedures must be given to analysts including pollution control measures.
The involvement of both people and materials in the cleanroom must be carefully controlled. Only things that are absolutely necessary are brought into the clean room. Laboratory vessels and other equipment should be cleaned using lint-free wipes with an appropriate solvent to minimize the generation of particles in the room. To minimize human contamination, analysts working in cleanrooms wear special lab coats, face masks, and gloves. These garments must be made from materials that do not shed fibers, are free of any metal components (buttons, zips) that can corrode and contaminate, can retain particles, are comfortable to wear , and (if possible) resistant to acids and reagents.
Cleanroom materials include polyester fabrics, nylon fibers and polypropylene composites. Disposable polythene gloves are recommended. Shoes should be kept outside the clean room area. Footwear storage (if necessary) should be kept in a closet in the buffer room, serving as an airlock between the outside area and the cleanroom. The airlock is also class 10,000 and at positive pressure relative to the outside environment, and the clean room is at positive pressure relative to the airlock room. The wardrobe (if necessary) is equipped with ultraviolet rays to kill all bacteria. Borosilicate glass pipettes and burettes, widely used in routine laboratories, are not suitable for use in isotopic analysis. Silica glass equipment can be cleaned with acid. It can also be used at high temperatures if needed. Laboratory tools and materials used are made of silicon glass and PTFE or HDPE (used at room temperature). New instruments must be cleaned as follows: degreasing with a non-ionic detergent such as Triton X-100, followed by 8 hours of soaking in a 1:1 ratio of nitric acid to hydrochloric acid. Final rinsing and soaking in high purity water should last eight hours before use.
