Sink, Large, Polypropylene Plastic Black for Pharma & Lab

Quick Answer: The Sink, Large, Polypropylene Plastic Black is a large laboratory sink bowl made of black polypropylene (PP), a plastic widely used for lab sinks because it resists most dilute acids, alkalis and salt solutions, intended for wash-up and general wet work in pharmaceutical and teaching laboratories.

Polypropylene as a Sink Material

Laboratory sinks meet a mixture of acids, alkalis, salt solutions, detergents and stains that would pit a steel sink or etch a glazed one. A polypropylene lab sink handles most of these well: PP is generally resistant to dilute mineral acids, alkalis and aqueous solutions, does not rust, and has a smooth surface that rinses clean. Its limits are strong oxidising acids such as concentrated nitric acid, some organic solvents, especially aromatic and chlorinated ones, and high heat, since PP softens as its temperature rises. Hot liquids should be cooled first or run in with cold water.

The black colour is practical as well as neat: it hides the permanent staining that indicators, iodine and silver salts leave on lighter sinks, and white precipitates or pale glassware stand out clearly against it. ‘Large’ marks this as the wash-up size rather than a handwash basin; the bowl dimensions and depth should be confirmed before the cabinet cut-out is made.

A sink this size needs matching fittings. A tall outlet such as the Elbow Action Swan Neck Cock lets buckets and carboys fit underneath, and a polypropylene bottle trap and hose pipe keeps the drain run chemically consistent with the bowl.

Care & Handling

• Support the sink fully in its cabinet frame, because a large bowl full of water is heavy.
• Cool hot liquids before pouring, or run cold water at the same time, as polypropylene softens with heat.
• Clean with detergent and a soft brush; scouring powder scratches and dulls the surface.
• Pour hazardous waste into labelled containers, never into the sink.

Specifications

Applications

• Glassware wash-up in chemistry, biology and pharmacy labs.
• Rinsing trays, buckets and larger apparatus in preparation rooms.
• Wet benches in pharmaceutical quality-control labs.
• Replacing corroded steel or chipped ceramic sinks during lab refurbishment.

Why Choose LabEquip

Pharmaceutical QC departments, lab furniture makers and colleges replacing old sinks buy large PP sinks for their wash-up stations. LabEquip lists this sink in General Lab Products; a quick note of the cabinet width and depth through the contact page lets us compare it with the bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are lab sinks made of polypropylene?

Polypropylene resists most dilute acids, alkalis and salt solutions, does not rust, and is lighter and less brittle than ceramic. That makes it a common, practical choice for general laboratory sinks.

Which chemicals can damage a PP sink?

Strong oxidising acids such as concentrated nitric acid, some organic solvents, particularly aromatic and chlorinated ones, and prolonged heat. These should not be poured into the sink.

Can boiling water be poured into a polypropylene sink?

Occasional hot water is generally tolerated, but polypropylene softens as its temperature rises. Cool very hot liquids first or run cold water at the same time, and never pour molten wax or agar, which also set in the drain.

Why choose a black sink?

Black hides the permanent stains that indicators, iodine and silver salts leave on light-coloured sinks, and pale glassware and white precipitates are easy to see against it.

What size is the large sink?

The listing describes it only as large, meaning the wash-up size rather than a handwash basin. The bowl dimensions and depth should be checked before the cabinet cut-out is made.

What fittings go with this sink?

A tap or mixer, a waste outlet and a trap. A tall swan-neck tap suits a large sink, and a polypropylene trap and waste pipe keep the drain run resistant to the same chemicals.

Last Updated: September 2026