UG and PG Laboratories

1.  Aim

The main objective of the SOP is to promote safe and secure working environment in the labs, and how to perform a laboratory process or experiment safely and effectively for smooth academic conduct.

2. Scope

This SOP explains the general rules, regulations and guidelines involved in all the laboratories of Department of Chemical Engineering. The Laboratories mentioned are listed below:

        i.            Fluid Particle Operations Lab

      ii.            Heat Transfer Lab

    iii.            Mass transfer Lab

    iv.            Reaction Engineering and thermodynamics Lab

      v.            Energy and Technology Lab

    vi.            Process Control and Instrumentation Lab

  vii.            Advanced Chemical Engineering Lab

3. Laboratory Manuals

·         A Lab manual is maintained in each laboratory.

·         The Laboratory Manual includes Standard operating Procedures for the experiments to be carried out in the laboratory that is Starting procedure, Closing procedure, Precautions and Maintenance instructions and Troubleshooting where it is applicable.

4.Do’s and Don’ts in the Laboratory

. The Do’s and Don’ts for a student is mentioned below:

Do’s

1.      Maintain discipline in the lab.

2.      Come to the lab prepared for the experiment.

3.      Handle lab equipment and apparatus with caution andcare.

4.      Before starting Laboratory work follow all written and verbal instructions carefully. If you do not understand a direction or part of a procedure, ask your concern teacher before proceeding with theactivity.

5.      Perform only those experiments authorized by your teacher. Carefully follow all instructions, both written andoral.

6.      Any failure / break-down of equipment must be reported to theteacher.

7.      Avoid contact with energized electrical circuits.

 

      Don’ts

1.      Do not enter the laboratory without wearing apron.

2.      Make noise in the lab.

1.      Do not handle any equipment before reading the instructions/instructionmanuals.

2.      Students are not allowed to touch any equipment or other materials in the laboratory area until you are instructed by Teacher orTechnician.

5.      Do not work in Laboratory alone or without presence of theteacher.

6.      Do not pipette any solution/chemical with mouth.

 

 

Do & Don’t rules that are appropriate to the particular laboratory should be written and displayed in the labs.

 

5. Responsibilities

Responsibilities can be grouped under three headings: Students, Faculty members and 

Technical staff.

 

5.1   Students

·         Students are required to adhere to safety norms and procedures of the lab.They are 

requiredto follow the Do’s and Don’ts listed in the Laboratory.

·         Students should get verified by teacher concerned for at least one set of observations.

·         Students should record observations on A4 size Bond papers with name, roll number and date of conduction written at the top right most corner of the sheet and get it signed

·         by the teacher concerned.

·         Students should follow the “General Instructions” (enclosed) given at the beginning of the semester for submitting the Lab Report.

·         They should confirm from teacher concerned the experiments to be performed on the coming turn.

 

5.2 Technical Staff

The responsibilities of the Lab Staff members are as follows:

·   Organizing laboratory in coordination with the Chairman of the, Department or and any member of the teaching staff.

·   Keeping and updating inventory records of all the materials and equipment in the laboratory, in addition to implementing the equipment maintenance schedule.

·    Receiving materials from suppliers, making sure of their compliance with the specifications and making entries.

·      Ensuring that health and safety procedures are followed in laboratory

·      Carrying out any other tasks assigned by the head of section.

 

In addition to the above-mentioned responsibilities lab staff has to do the following procedures before the Laboratory period:

·         To check the power supply of the experimental set up.

·         Fill the water in the tank, warm it if required, check leakage, air etc of the experimental set up.

·         Rinsing and washing of the apparatus.

·         Preparation of solutions /chemicals/slurries/accessories for the experiment.

·         Help the students at the time of conduction of experiment.

The responsibilities of the Faculty Members are as follows:

·         Preparing Laboratory manuals in consultation with the Lab In-charge/Section In-charge and keeping a file for each course.

·         Supervising and counselling students on theoretical and practical activities.

·         Keeping records of the students’ results, activities and attendance.

·         Academic assessment in the form of report evaluation, viva-voce as per academic ordinances.

·         Offering academic counselling and career advice to students.

·         Carrying out any other tasks assigned by the concerned heads of section.

6. Specific Procedures

6.1 Pre-Semester

1.      Before the start of the new semester, all the equipment of the laboratory will be tested and checked by the Laboratory staff. Requisition of any equipment will be raised through proper channel, ifrequired.

2.      Teachers concerned will update the Lab manual and provide a copy of the same through section/personal webpage and in hard copy form to be kept in the Laboratory.

3.      On the very first turn of the Laboratory class, students are briefed about the lab, experiments, schedule, practices and other measures in the laboratory. Students are provided with a copy of the Lab Manual.

6.2 During Semester

1.      Teachers concerned forms the experiment groups according to the roll numbers of the students. Maximum of 4 students are allowed in an experiment group. Teachers will then allot the experiment to be performed by a group from the next turn. This allotment will be made only on the very first turn and then on the further turns, experiment groups will proceed to the next experiment automatically in a cyclic manner.

2.      Teacher explains the importance of experiments of goals then the procedure of conducting the experiment explained and one ready of the experiment is shown.

3.      From the second turn, students will perform the experiment as allotted. They will be required to prepare the experiment after studying from the lab manual and follow all the procedures of thelaboratory.

4.      Students will seek the help of the lab staff/teachers concerned in case of anydifficulty.

5.      After noting down the readings of an experiment, students will get their observation sheets signed by the teacher concerned.

6.      The teachers concerned conduct the viva-voce and evaluate the reports (out of 10 marks).

 

6.3 End of Semester and conduct of Practical Examination

1.           After all lab activities have been completed at the end of the semester, teachers concerned will display the sessional marks on the section notice board/websites. Discrepancy, if any, will be rectified.

2.           On the practical examination day, students will be required to submit their reports. Students are allowed to the enter the lab in accordance to the roll numbers and mark their attendance. Exam is conducted in two phase. First phase is to conducted the experiment and second phase is viva voce by external examination.

3.           Students are allotted an experiment on a random basis where they are required to select a practical answer sheet. The students perform the experiment in the usual manner and as instructed.

4.           Second phase will consist of viva-voce to be conducted by an external examiner recommended through BOS meeting of the section.

5.           Teachers concerned (internal examiners) will evaluate the practical answer books and enter the marks in the marks award list. Internal as well as external examiners are required to append their signatures on the marks award list.

6.           The marks award list will be sent to the respective tabulators in both soft copy and hard copyform.

7.  General safety measures

·         Labs are well ventilated and are equipped with the exhaust.

·         In case of injuries first aid kit is available in the laboratory.

·         In case of fire mishaps fire extinguishers are located near to the main exit door