EXHIBIT 24 POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ William H. Binnie ------------------------------ William H. Binnie POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Don H. Davis, Jr. ------------------------------ Don H. Davis, Jr. POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Christopher L. Doerr ------------------------------ Christopher L. Doerr POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Stephen R. Hardis ------------------------------ Stephen R. Hardis POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Frank H. Jellinek, Jr. ------------------------------ Frank H. Jellinek POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ William U. Parfet ------------------------------ William U. Parfet POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Joe L. Roby ------------------------------ Joe L. Roby POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Richard W. Vieser ------------------------------ Richard W. Vieser POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ Kenneth F. Yontz ------------------------------ Kenneth F. Yontz POWER OF ATTORNEY The undersigned, a director of Apogent Technologies Inc., hereby constitutes and appoints Michael K. Bresson and Jeffrey C. Leathe, or either of them, his true and lawful attorneys and agents, each with full power and authority to act as such without the other, to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which either one of said attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable said Corporation to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), as amended; and including specifically, but without limitation of the foregoing, full power and authority to each of said attorneys and agents to sign the name of the undersigned to the Form 10-K Annual Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, and any amendment(s) thereto, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the undersigned hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered these presents as of the 7th day of December 2001. /s/ R. Jeffrey Harris --------------------- R. Jeffrey Harris