Lecture bottles are small gas cylinders (about 2 inches by 13 inches) and are frequently used for highly hazardous gases to keep the total quantity of a very dangerous substance present in the lab to a minimum.  Lecture bottles of dangerous gases are still captured under the Dangerous Gas Safety Program, however.

  • Lecture bottles of poisonous and pyrophoric gases must always be kept inside the fume hood, whether or not they are in use.
  • The number of lecture bottles allowed in a lab at Georgia Tech is limited to 6.

Other rules that apply to full sized cylinders also apply to lecture bottles such as:

  • Secure in-use bottles
  • Store upright
  • Always use regulators, fittings, and tubing that are compatible with the gas
  • Remove regulators when not in use 

Holder available from Sigma appropriate for in-use or in-storage lecture bottles

lecture bottle in use

Holder available from Sigma appropriate for storing lecture bottles

lecture bottles in storage

Gas supply companies will not rent lecture bottles: you must buy them.  Disposing of a lecture bottle is very expensive (about $1,000.00 each).  Some companies, however, will take back lecture bottles that you have purchased from them, for a fee.  Please check before you buy and try to purchase lecture bottles from a company that will take them back. Contact EHS (404-894-4635) for help with shipping a lecture bottle back to the manufacturer.

Here is an example of what not to do with lecture bottles:

lecture bottles piled on top of each other

Always dispose of lecture bottles that you no longer need.