Can the Teflon block be ultrasonically cleaned?
The Amsco Ultrasonic Cleaning Console with 0.5% or 1% non-ionic detergent and ‘hot’ water has been successfully implemented as an automated washing procedure with no deleterious effects observed for >30 cycles. What incubation temperatures and shakers can I use? The dialysis block can be incubated at any desired temperature between 20ºC and 45ºC. Equilibrium is reached more rapidly if the dialysis block is shaken during the incubation period. Shaking at 80-100rpm is sufficient using any general incubator containing an orbital or reciprocating platform shaker e.g. Fisher Scientific (Catalog # 14-278-104) and VWR international (Catalog # 47742-750 or #33998-360). How can I mark Teflon blocks uniquely and enhance the legibility of the letters? Use a colored marker pen and color the blocks over and around the letters. The color generally does not penetrate the letters but does color the surface. After allowing time to dry, thoroughly wipe the surface thereby removing some of the color. Thi
One scientist has successfully used the Steris Amsco® Sonic Energy Console, Model #SC1224GD with a ~1% detergent solution (TergajetTM Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Powdered Detergent) added manually to the cleaning chamber with a 7 minute cycle preprogrammed and the plumbed detergent setting OFF to semi-automate the washing of the Teflon blocks. After the wash cycle the wash water is drained from the wash chamber and the chamber refilled with fresh/clean hot water. The Teflon bars in the wash basket are manually immersed and removed several times for the initial rinsing. This manual rinsing in the wash chamber is critical as any residual detergent can adversely affects binding results. The final rinse uses a 30 min preprogrammed cycle using the rinse/dry cycle in the rinse chamber. This process has been successfully used for more than 30 cycles without any deleterious affects on the Teflon blocks.
