View source for Glovebox

{{short description|Sealed container with gloves in the side for manipulating the objects inside}}
{{For|the compartment in a vehicle's dashboard|Glove compartment}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2011}}
{{Infobox laboratory equipment
|name         = Glovebox
|image        = Glovebox.jpg
|alt          = <!-- See Wikipedia:Alternative text for images -->
|caption      = An ordinary glovebox, showing the two gloves for manipulation, with airlock on the right
|acronym      = 
|other_names  = Isolator
|uses         = Inert atmosphere work<br />Hazardous materials work
|inventor     = 
|related      = [[Desiccator]]<br/>[[Schlenk line]]
|image size=}}
A '''glovebox''' (or '''glove box''') is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glovebox are [[glove]]s arranged in such a way that the user can place their hands into the gloves and perform tasks inside the box without breaking containment. Part or all of the box is usually transparent to allow the user to see what is being manipulated. A smaller antechamber compartment is used to transport items into or out of the main chamber without compromising the internal environment. Antechambers are much smaller than the main chambers so they can be exposed to ambient conditions more often and achieve inert conditions quickly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antechamber of a Glove Box |url=https://www.ossila.com/pages/glove-box-antechamber |website=Ossila}}</ref>

Two types of gloveboxes exist. The first allows a person to work with hazardous substances, such as radioactive materials or infectious disease agents, and the second allows manipulation of substances that must be contained within a very high purity inert atmosphere, such as [[argon]] or [[nitrogen]].  It is also possible to use a glovebox for manipulation of items in a [[vacuum chamber]].
[[File:2GBII.jpg|thumb|ProRes Glove box Dual Side operation]]

== Inert atmosphere work ==
The gas in a glovebox is pumped through a series of treatment devices which remove [[solvent]]s, [[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 sieve]]s 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.

== Hazardous materials work ==
At the now-deactivated [[Rocky Flats Plant]], which manufactured [[Plutonium pit|plutonium triggers]], also called "pits", production facilities consisted of linked [[stainless steel]] gloveboxes up to 64 feet, or 20 meters, in length, which contained the equipment which [[forge]]d and [[machining|machined]] the trigger parts. The gloves were [[lead]]-lined. Other materials used in the gloveboxes included [[polymethyl methacrylate|acrylic]] viewing windows and Benelex shielding composed of [[wood fiber]] and plastic which [[radiation shielding|shielded]] against [[neutron emission|neutron]] [[radiation]]. Manipulation of the lead-lined gloves was onerous work.<!--material from a Denver Post article, December 9, 2004, pages 1B and 4B-->

Some gloveboxes for radioactive work are under inert conditions, for instance, one nitrogen-filled box contains an argon-filled box. The argon box is fitted with a gas treatment system to keep the gas very pure to enable electrochemical experiments in molten salts.<ref>[http://itu.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php?id=173&type=100 Institute for Transuranium Elements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205224419/http://itu.jrc.ec.europa.eu/index.php?id=173&type=100 |date=2012-02-05 }}. jrc.ec.europa.eu</ref>

Gloveboxes are also used in the biological sciences when dealing with [[anaerobic organism|anaerobes]] or high-[[biosafety level]] pathogens.

Gloveboxes used for hazardous materials are generally maintained at a lower pressure than the surrounding atmosphere, so that microscopic leaks result in air intake rather than hazard outflow. Gloveboxes used for hazardous materials generally incorporate [[HEPA]] filters into the exhaust, to keep the hazard contained.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="170" heights="170">
File:Vacuum Dry Box.jpg|Metal glovebox for handling dangerous substances in vacuum, with extra protection against explosions or implosions
File:S Krikalev with miniglovebox.jpg|[[Sergei Krikalev]] working with a portable glovebox at the [[International Space Station]]
File:Glovebox INL.jpg|Multiple-port glovebox allowing access by several operators from different sides
File:Argonne's Tribology Lab - Hydrogen Tribometer.jpg|A glovebox-like shield built around an experimental setup
File:NNSA-NSO-58.jpg|Large scale glovebox in the nuclear industry
File:Scientist using a glovebox.jpg|A scientist in UCL Chemical Engineering uses a glovebox to manipulate a sample
File:Glovebox at Gdansk University of Technology.jpg|Glovebox with microscope and airlock
File:GB II glove box.jpg|Nano Material handling glove box
File:ProRes PB II glovebox.jpg|Inert glovebox using for pharmaceutical application (hygroscopic samples weighing and packing)
File:Maarja Paalo uses a glovebox.jpg|Supercapacitor test cell assembly in an argon dry chamber. Modern supercapacitors work with an organic electrolyte that must be protected from moisture. Therefore, the supercapacitor was filled with electrolyte in a dry chamber in high purity argon environment
</gallery>

==See also==
{{commons category}}
* [[Desiccator]]s are used for storing chemicals which are moisture-sensitive, but do not react quickly or violently with water.
* [[Fume hood]]s are used for hazardous material handling where less operator protection and the same atmosphere can be used.
* [[Hot cell]]s often use [[remote manipulator]]s to provide radiological containment where more operator protection is required.
* [[Sandblasting cabinet]]s are a type of glovebox which shield the user from the high-velocity abrasive particles inside.
* [[Schlenk line]]s are used for manipulating oxygen- and moisture-sensitive chemicals.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web | author = Rob Toreki | title = Glove Boxes | url = https://packlim.com/custom-glove-boxes/ | work = Custom Packaging | publisher = Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated | date = 24 May 2004}}
* {{cite web | author = Tomme | title = Glove Boxes | url = http://www.ilpi.com/inorganic/glassware/glovebox.html | work = The Glassware Gallery | publisher = Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated | date = 24 May 2004}}
* [http://www.gloveboxsociety.org American Glovebox Society]
* Hans-Jürgen Bässler und Frank Lehmann: ''Containment Technology: Progress in the Pharmaceutical and Food Processing Industry.'' Springer, Berlin 2013

{{Laboratory equipment}}
{{Radiation protection}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Air-free techniques]]
[[Category:Cleanroom technology]]
[[Category:Gas technologies]]
[[Category:Laboratory equipment]]
[[Category:Radiation protection]]