What to know before you buy
This collection covers bottles, vials and carboys for reagents, solvents, powders and samples. Materials include aluminum, borosilicate glass, high purity quartz, HDPE, PE, PP, PETG and PFA, so you can match the container to its contents. Sizes run from small glass vials up to 2 L wide-mouth bottles and NEST polypropylene carboys.
Aluminum bottles with plug and cap, in 100 mL, 200 mL and 500 mL sizes, are light and opaque and will not shatter. Borosilicate glass vials come in transparent and brown versions, 25 per pack with polyethylene caps and liners, and the brown glass cuts light exposure. High purity 99.99% quartz reagent bottles suit trace work where leaching from ordinary glass is a concern. Witeg screw cap bottles in borosilicate glass 3.3 cover general reagent storage.
HDPE and PE bottles handle many aqueous solutions, acids and bases, and BrandTech PFA wide-mouth bottles handle aggressive chemicals. For media and buffers, look at NEST round storage bottles. If you are deciding between glass types, read Is Amber or Clear Glassware Better for Your Lab?
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bottle material should I use for my chemical?
Borosilicate glass handles most organic solvents and lets you see the contents. Quartz suits high purity and trace work. HDPE, PE and PP resist breakage and suit many aqueous solutions, acids and bases. Hydrofluoric acid attacks glass and quartz, so it needs plastic such as PFA or PP. Check compatibility for your specific reagent before you order.
When should I choose an aluminum bottle?
Aluminum bottles are light, opaque and will not shatter, which suits powders, oils and other materials that are moved between sites or kept from light. Each comes with a plug and a cap, in 200 mL and 500 mL as well as 100 mL. Avoid them for acids and bases that attack aluminum.
Do I need a wide-mouth bottle?
Wide-mouth bottles make it easier to scoop powders and solids and to clean the bottle. Options include the HDPE clear wide-mouth bottles, 25 per case, the 2 L PE wide-mouth bottle and BrandTech PFA wide-mouth bottles. For liquids, screw cap reagent bottles such as the BrandTech PP bottles with GL 45 thread pour cleanly.
Are there bottles for washing or dispensing?
Yes. BrandTech VITsafe safety wash bottles have a wide mouth for easy refilling. The BrandTech 2,000 mL bottle with NS 29/32 joint is made for an automatic burette, and the NEST PETG square storage bottle comes with a tube for drawing off liquid.
How do I order bottles in volume or a custom size?
Many bottles here come in packs or cases, such as the HDPE bottles in packs of 20 and the square HDPE bottles with stopper and lid in packs of 10. For larger quantities or a mix of sizes, use the bulk order request form. For a size, material or closure not listed, use the quote request page.
