Burette Brush For Cleaning Burette Tubes

Brush, Burette

High-Tensile Galvanized Wire Shaft: Features an ultra-long, flexible wire handle designed to navigate the entire length of standard 50ml and 100ml burettes without bending or losing structural integrity during vigorous scrubbing.

Soft-Grade Non-Abrasive Nylon Bristles: Precision-tufted with high-density synthetic fibers that provide maximum surface contact for removing stubborn precipitates while protecting the sensitive inner walls from microscopic scratches or etching.

$1.75

Quick Answer: The Brush, Burette is a long, slender cleaning brush, typically with a narrow bristle section on an extended twisted-wire stem, used to scrub the inside of a burette from the open top. A burette brush reaches the full graduated length of the tube, where grease films cause drops to cling and titration readings to be wrong.

Why Burettes Need Their Own Brush

A burette is read to a fraction of a millilitre, and the reading assumes that liquid drains evenly down the wall. If a film of grease or dried residue is left inside, drops cling to the glass above the meniscus, less liquid is actually delivered than the scale shows, and the titre is wrong. Soaking in detergent loosens most films, but a brush is often needed to lift them. The tube is too long and narrow for an ordinary test-tube brush, so burette brushes are made with a long stem and a slim head that fits the bore.

Clean from the top, with the burette held firmly or clamped, and feed the brush down gently with detergent solution. Take care near the lower end: the brush should not be forced into the narrow section above the stopcock or into the jet, which can crack. Where the burette has a removable key, as on a PTFE key burette, take out the key first; a glass stopcock with grease should have its old grease removed separately. The length and bristle type of this brush are not given, so match it to your burette sizes.

Applications

Removing grease films that make drops cling to the burette wall during titration.
Cleaning burettes after potassium permanganate titrations, which can leave brown manganese dioxide deposits.
Deep cleaning of department burette stocks at the end of term.
Cleaning other long, narrow glass tubes that a test-tube brush cannot reach.

Specifications

Item	Brush for cleaning burette bores
Form	Long stem with a narrow bristle section
Access	From the open top of the burette
Avoid	Forcing into the jet or narrow tip
Length and bristle material	Confirm at enquiry

Cleaning Technique

Soak the burette in warm detergent solution before brushing, and brush with the burette held or clamped upright.
Push and turn the brush gently; never lever it against the glass, which can snap a long burette.
Rinse several times with tap water, then with distilled water, and check that the water film is unbroken.
Store cleaned burettes inverted in a burette stand or rack to drain, with the stopcock open or the key removed.

Why Choose LabEquip

Burette brushes are ordered by schools, colleges and quality-control labs that run volumetric analysis every week. LabEquip lists this brush in the General Lab Products range; send your burette sizes through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do drops cling to the inside of my burette?

Clinging drops show a film of grease or residue on the glass. The liquid no longer drains evenly, so the reading overstates the volume delivered. Soak the burette in detergent, brush the bore and rinse until water forms an unbroken film.

Can the brush be pushed through the tip of the burette?

No. The jet and the narrow section above the stopcock are fragile, and forcing a brush into them can crack the glass. Brush the main graduated bore only, and flush the tip with water or detergent.

Should I remove the stopcock before cleaning?

Yes, where it is removable. Take out a PTFE key and clean it separately. For a greased glass stopcock, wipe away the old grease with a tissue and a suitable solvent before washing, then regrease lightly after cleaning.

How do I remove brown stains after permanganate titrations?

The brown deposit is usually manganese dioxide. A little acidified hydrogen peroxide or acidified oxalic acid solution dissolves it; follow with brushing and several rinses. Wear eye protection when handling these solutions.

Should the burette be rinsed with the titrant before use?

Yes. After cleaning and rinsing with distilled water, rinse the burette two or three times with small portions of the solution it will hold, so the water left on the walls does not dilute the titrant.