An Effective'Low-Cost Splash Arrestor The problems of noise, reduced vacuum, and spray associated with water aspiratorsean be alleviated using alow-cost splash arrestor consisting of an inner bottle and a baffle. Our two-part splash arrestor was constructed from a 1-qt plastic container of the type used to hold duplicating fluid and a 2-L plastic soft-drink container. However, screw cap containers of varying size and shape may be used. A3Is-in. hole, about the size of the outer diameter of the aspirator shaft, was drilled through the center of the screw cap of the inner bottle. The screw cap was then inserted over the aspirator shaft and a short, snug piece of rubber tubing was fitted to the shaft to prevent the screw cap from falling off. Three staggered raws,3/&. apart, of %-in. holes, eight holes per row, were drilled along the walls of the bottle near the top. A small drainage hole was drilled off center at the bottom of the bottle. The baffle was made from a plastic soft drink container by cutting an appropriate amount from the top, such that it rests on the shoulders of the inner bottle, and by removing the bottom. The baffle was then placed over the inner bottle and the assembly was mounted onto the screw cap to complete the installation. As shown in the figure, the design of our system differs significantly from many commercially available units and offers distinct advantages over those reported in the literature.'J This assembly can be used in a sink or in a trough. Its height can he easily adjusted by raisingor lowering the device on the aspirator shaft. The cap allows the unit to he fastened securely to the aspirator and eliminates any spray emerging from the neck of the bottle. This s e t u ~ allows for easv removal or reolacement of the splash arrestor. Funhermure, the haffle considerably rrducrs the noise and greatly mmimices thc splashing associated wrth commercial and previously described systerns. Since thrre is no restriction b, water flow, full vacuum is quickly reached, which is also a significant improvement.
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'Garrett. J. M. J. Chem. Educ. i983, 60.501. Widener. R. K. J. Chem. Educ. i984,61.926.
Ronald C. Solo Sobhy El-Hefnawl Fltzgerald B. Bramwell CUNY. Brooklyn College Brooklyn. NY 11210
270
Journal of Chemical Education
