The influence of a well-maintained cuvette on the results of a spectrophotometric measurement is often underestimated - but the cuvette as an optical measuring element is decisively responsible for the accuracy of the measurement.
Therefore, in our video series "How-to Handle Glass Cuvettes", we would like to share tips & tricks with you on how to get the best out of your cuvettes and your UV Vis measurements.
Do's and Don'ts
The best gripping tool for cuvettes is gloved fingers. This avoids scratches and chipping and prevents the cuvette from simply falling down. To avoid fingerprints, never touch the cuvette without gloves.
During the day, the cuvettes can be stored securely in a plastic cuvette rack so that they can dry completely after cleaning.
For more tips: watch the video!
Cleaning Routine
After each measuring cycle, we recommend cleaning the glass cuvettes thoroughly. Here is our recommended cleaning routine for soluble samples:
Step 1: Rinse the cuvette thoroughly with distilled water.
Step 2: Rinse the cuvette with ethanol to avoid water spots.
Step 3: Rinse the cuvette with acetone to accelerate the drying effect.
Step 4: Dry and carefully tap the cuvette out on a lint-free paper wipe.
Sample Preparation
Before each measuring cycle, we recommend cleaning the glass cuvettes thoroughly.
Here are our tips for filling samples:
Tip 1: Place the cuvette in a secure standing position, e.g., in a cuvette rack.
Tip 2: Make sure to use plastic pipette tips as glass tips may scratch the cuvette.
Tip 3: Fill the cuvette to a maximum of 4/5.
Visual Inspection
Before and after each sample series, the used cuvettes should be checked visually. Only if the visual inspection shows no noticeable defects, such as scratches, cracks, or stains, should the cuvette be used for measurements.
The biggest enemy of the cuvette is a fingerprint, as it can greatly affect the measurement accuracy.
