Storage of solutions - (Aug/05/2008 )

Hello,
I am going to prepare a solution at a pH of 5.0. Can this solution be stored in a plastic bottle, or should it be kept in glass?

Thanks!

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depend on the type of plastic and type of acid. You might note thet concentrated 12M HCl comes in plastics bottles.

Personally I will keep it in a glass bottle and covered in aluminium foil if required.

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Thanks for the info. It is a citrate-phosphate buffer, pH 5.0 composed of citric acid and dibasic sodium phosphate. I am only making 100ml, and my smallest glass bottle is 500ml with a narrow neck. That makes it hard to draw solution from. That is why I would prefer to keep the solution in a (smaller) plastic bottle.

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oh, a citrate buffer, well plastic should do okay.
But do note that plasticiser can be leached out some plastics, and plasticiser do have an effect on cells. So be aware of what kind of work you are going to use the solution for.

Also how are you going to sterile the solution? Or is sterility unimportant for this solution.

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I am just using the solution as a wash buffer for some magnetic beads that will be used in an IP. I did not sterilize the solution. After washing the beads they are incubated with antibody, washed again with the citrate buffer, then incubated with cell lysate.

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I have seen comercial buffers in plastic bottler, so I think there shouldn’t be a problem.

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