Separatory Funnel Holder, Plastic

Quick Answer: A separatory funnel holder is a support that keeps one or more separating funnels upright and steady while their liquid layers settle and are drained. This plastic version takes the place of the iron ring and retort stand often used for the job, and plastic does not rust in acid fumes.

Holding the Funnel Still While Layers Separate

Liquid-liquid extraction depends on patience. After shaking and venting, the separatory funnel must stand undisturbed until the two layers are sharp, and it must stay upright while the lower layer is run off through the tap. Any wobble remixes the interface. A holder gives the funnel body a secure seat, with the stem passing through an opening so a beaker or flask can be placed underneath.

Plastic holders are light, easy to wipe clean and unaffected by the splashes of dilute acid or alkali that are common in extraction work. The listing does not state the plastic, the number of funnel positions, the opening sizes or whether the holder stands on the bench or clamps to a rod, so check that the openings suit the funnels you use. Polypropylene, a common choice for such supports, softens with heat and may swell in some organic solvents, so wipe off solvent spills promptly.

The holder is meant for funnels such as the separating funnel and the glass separatory funnel.

Specifications

Applications

• Supporting separating funnels during solvent extraction of iodine or organic products
• Keeping funnels steady through long settling times, such as when an emulsion is slow to break
• Holding several funnels side by side, where a multi-position holder is chosen
• Standing funnels upright to drain and dry after washing

Care & Handling

• Check that the funnel sits level and cannot tip before filling it.
• Place a tray under the holder during extractions so solvent spills are contained.
• Wipe the holder with water and mild detergent, and remove organic solvent splashes quickly.
• Keep it away from hot plates and burners.

Why Choose LabEquip

Organic chemistry teaching labs, pharmacy colleges and QC laboratories that run frequent extractions use a separatory funnel holder to free up retort stands and keep funnels secure. Find it under LabEquip’s chemistry lab equipment and confirm the funnel sizes it must hold via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use a holder instead of a ring on a retort stand?

A dedicated holder gives a stable, level seat without adjusting clamps, and plastic does not rust or scratch glass. A retort stand ring works well too, but it takes more bench space and must be matched to the funnel size.

Will it fit my separating funnels?

That depends on the opening size and on your funnel’s shape and capacity. Measure the funnel body just above the stem and compare it with the holder’s openings before ordering.

How long should the layers be left to settle?

Until the boundary between them is sharp and both layers are clear, which may take under a minute or much longer if an emulsion forms. A secure holder lets the funnel stand undisturbed for as long as needed.

Is plastic safe near organic solvents?

Short contact with most common extraction solvents is not a problem for polypropylene, but aromatic and chlorinated solvents can soften or swell it with prolonged contact. Wipe up spills and do not use the holder as a solvent tray.

Where should the receiving flask go?

Directly under the funnel stem, with the tip of the stem touching the inside wall of the flask or beaker so the liquid runs down without splashing.

How do I drain the lower layer cleanly?

Open the tap fully at first, slow it as the interface approaches the stopcock, and close it just as the boundary reaches the tap. Then tip the upper layer out of the neck of the funnel, which keeps it free of the lower-layer droplets that remain in the stem.

Last Updated: September 2026