18 replies to this topic

[Lupo Comunitario]

Hi everybody.
I have a basic question that maybe I should be ashamed to ask:
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Why liquids and solids have to be autoclaved separately?

Fabio

[mdfenko]

you can autoclave solids with liquid cycle but you can't autoclave liquids with solid cycle.

solid cycle vents rapidly. the liquids will boil over.

liquid cycle vents gradually. this helps prevent boiling.

[Minnie Mouse]

Normally, I autoclave buffer and tip boxes together using liquid cycle.

[pito]

you can autoclave solids with liquid cycle but you can't autoclave liquids with solid cycle.

solid cycle vents rapidly. the liquids will boil over.

liquid cycle vents gradually. this helps prevent boiling.

Could you define what you mean by liquid cycle and solid cycle? (time.. etc..)

I always use the same protocol to autoclave, I have no idea if it a "solid" cycle or a "liquid" cycle.

We do "open" the bottles with liquids a bit so that the pressure can go out the bottle.

Or are you using some sort of special autoclave ?

Edited by pito, 01 April 2009 - 10:19 AM.

[lab rat]

Pito,

Many autoclaves have settings for different types of items: liquids, unwrapped items, wrapped items, etc.

Liquid settings will vent slowly, to avoid boilover.
Unwrapped settings will vent quickly.
Wrapped settings will vent quickly, and have a drying cycle at the end.

Older autoclaves may not have these settings (?) All the autoclaves that we use have digital screens and pre-programmed settings.

Does this help?

Lab rat

[praveensbio]

liquid cycle is the best one to choose either it may be only liquids or only solids or with a combination..........
In our lab the autoclave is set to only liquid cycle and it is not adjusted in any case and it works pretty fine......
the reason for the solid cycle is that as already mentioned due drying cycle and prolonged duration liquids may evaporate and change there composition..............

[Minnie Mouse]

I would autoclave solid (tips boxes and eppendorf) and liquid (buffers) together using liquid cycle, rather than separate them and run two different cycles.

It would help to reduce greenhouse gases.

[GeorgeWolff]

They can be autolcaved together.

[pito]

Pito,

Many autoclaves have settings for different types of items: liquids, unwrapped items, wrapped items, etc.

Liquid settings will vent slowly, to avoid boilover.
Unwrapped settings will vent quickly.
Wrapped settings will vent quickly, and have a drying cycle at the end.

Older autoclaves may not have these settings (?) All the autoclaves that we use have digital screens and pre-programmed settings.

Does this help?

Lab rat

Ah I see, thats what I was thinking: you are all speaking about new types of autoclaves

Well I still use an old autoclave, there is nothing really to select
You just swith it on and wait untill the pressure is high enough and then you close it , wait 20 minutes, release the pressure and done

[mdfenko]

i was using autoclaves 35+ years ago (and they were old then) and they all had liquid and dry cycles.

the only problem with autoclaving solids (dry) with liquid cycle is that the wrappers sometimes came out damp or wet.

[pito]

i was using autoclaves 35+ years ago (and they were old then) and they all had liquid and dry cycles.

the only problem with autoclaving solids (dry) with liquid cycle is that the wrappers sometimes came out damp or wet.

Really?
I havent got any setting to be decided. However you can indeed decide how fast you let the pressure go by turning the vial less or more open, but still, thats not really a specific setting.

Like said: on and off button and thats it

Edited by pito, 04 April 2009 - 04:25 AM.

[josse]

How would you guys keep your tips for the pipettes dry when autoclaving them.
We put aluminum foil around the boxes, but I think this is a waste of foil.

Arent there any alternatives?

[lab rat]

How would you guys keep your tips for the pipettes dry when autoclaving them.
We put aluminum foil around the boxes, but I think this is a waste of foil.

Arent there any alternatives?

Hi Josse,

Yes, that's a waste of foil. Just put the tips in a glassware oven after autoclaving, and they'll dry.

regards,

lab rat

[pito]

How would you guys keep your tips for the pipettes dry when autoclaving them.
We put aluminum foil around the boxes, but I think this is a waste of foil.

Arent there any alternatives?

Hi Josse,

Yes, that's a waste of foil. Just put the tips in a glassware oven after autoclaving, and they'll dry.

regards,

lab rat

I have done it with aluminum foil too: if you do not use aluminum foil, they stay wet for too long.
It is indeed a waste.
But arent there special bags to use instead of aluminim foil?

[perneseblue]

How would you guys keep your tips for the pipettes dry when autoclaving them.
We put aluminum foil around the boxes, but I think this is a waste of foil.

Arent there any alternatives?

Hi Josse,
Yes, that's a waste of foil. Just put the tips in a glassware oven after autoclaving, and they'll dry.

regards,

lab rat

In my former department, we placed our wet autoclaved tip boxes into a heated drying cabinet. It took a while but the boxes come out dry the next morning