Manchester Metropolitan University

The Dalton Building required laboratory workstations capable of safely containing chemical experiments without the limitations of traditional ducted systems. The team needed to accommodate experiments including coupling syntheses, thin-layer chromatography, column chromatography, and organic distillations.

Mukarram Ali, Technical Officer for the Molecular Sciences Department, explained, “Our primary concern was ensuring safe and contained synthetic chemistry undergraduate experiments. Space flexibility was also important to adapt to evolving teaching programmes.”

Traditional ducted fume cupboards provided containment but restricted laboratory layouts and required extensive building modifications. MMU sought a solution that would deliver effective safety while maintaining operational flexibility and allow future lab configurations without significant additional cost.

Monmouth Scientific supplied 21 Recirculating Fume Cupboards for the Dalton Building:

• 13 x CT800 Circulaire^® Recirculating Fume Cupboards
• 8 x CT1400 Circulaire^® Recirculating Fume Cupboards

The ductless fume cupboards employ recirculating technology, filtering hazardous vapours internally and eliminating the need for fixed ducting. This allowed the laboratory to optimise workstation placement and maintain a layout that can be reconfigured easily as teaching requirements evolve.

Mukarram added, “The non-ducted Recirculating Fume Cupboards provide maximum flexibility. We can adjust layouts or move spaces without being constrained by fixed ducting, which enhances student safety and supports our future plans for expansion.”

The CT800 and CT1400 models were selected to meet different laboratory bench sizes, providing appropriate airflow and containment for each experiment type. Both models are equipped with multi-stage filtration, ensuring that airborne chemical hazards are safely captured and neutralised within the unit.

The installation of Recirculating Fume Cupboards has significantly improved containment and laboratory safety. Students now have more space to conduct experiments comfortably, while workflow efficiency remains unaffected.

The ductless design also minimised infrastructure modifications, reducing downtime and ongoing maintenance requirements. Laboratory staff can now configure workstations for a variety of experiments, supporting flexible teaching programmes and long-term planning.

Mukarram explained, “The Recirculating Fume Cupboards have had a major positive impact on our containment and safety. Students can work confidently, and the flexible layout has future-proofed our laboratory spaces.”