Industrial Funnels, Plastic

Quick Answer: An industrial plastic funnel is a large, sturdy funnel for transferring bulk volumes of liquid into carboys, drums and large bottles. The listing image shows a wide funnel with a side handle and a plain stem.

Sized for Bulk, Not for Filtering

Laboratory filter funnels are small, with a 60 degree cone and a narrow stem meant to support a paper filter. Moving several litres of distilled water, a bulk buffer or a stock of dilute acid into a carboy needs something else: a wide mouth that catches the whole stream from a large container, and a stem wide enough to let liquid through quickly. The industrial funnel is made for that job.

The handle shown in the image lets the funnel be held steady with one hand, or hung up to drain after use. The title gives no size or material; large funnels of this kind are commonly polypropylene or polyethylene, both of which resist water, aqueous salt solutions and dilute acids and alkalis. Check compatibility before pouring solvents or concentrated acids.

Use it to fill the plastic carboy with stopcock from a bulk container. For solids, the plastic powder funnel has a short, wide stem that suits powders better.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Leave an air gap between stem and container neck, or lift the funnel slightly, so air can escape and the funnel does not overflow.
• Keep separate, labelled funnels for water, acids and solvents.
• Rinse after each use and dry upside down.

Applications

• Refilling distilled water carboys in a prep room
• Pouring bulk buffer or salt solutions into dispensing containers
• Transferring aqueous or solvent waste into collection containers
• Filling large bottles of cleaning solution or detergent

Why Choose LabEquip

Prep rooms and lab stores that handle liquids in bulk use a large funnel for refilling carboys and waste containers. LabEquip lists it with its chemistry lab equipment; ask about size through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does liquid back up in the funnel when filling a carboy?

Air in the carboy has to escape as liquid enters. If the stem fits tightly in the neck, air cannot get out, and the funnel fills and overflows. Lift the funnel slightly or use one with an air-release groove.

Can an industrial funnel be used for filtration?

It can hold a coarse strainer or filter cloth, but it is not designed to support a paper filter cone. For laboratory filtration, use a 60 degree filter funnel.

Which chemicals can be poured through it?

Polypropylene and polyethylene funnels handle water, aqueous solutions and dilute acids and alkalis well. Concentrated oxidising acids and many organic solvents need checking against the material first.

Should one funnel be used for everything?

No. Keep dedicated funnels for water, acids, alkalis and solvents, clearly labelled. A funnel used for waste should never be used to fill a reagent container.

How do I use the handle?

Grip it to steady the funnel while pouring from a heavy container, or hang the funnel by it to drain after use. Do not carry a funnel full of liquid by the handle.

How is the funnel cleaned?

Rinse it straight after use with water, wash with detergent if needed, and let it dry upside down. Dried residues are harder to remove and can contaminate the next liquid.

Last Updated: September 2026