UA Biophysics:Protocols: Glass Cleaning

Cleaning Slides with Piranha Solution

Materials:

• Sulfuric Acid (H₂SO₄)
• Hydrogen Peroxide (H₂O₂) 50%
• Isopropanol

Procedure: Day 1: In a fume hood, wearing high-grade nitrile gloves:

• Prepare 20 ml of a 30% H₂SO₄:H₂O₂ 30% solution in a 25 ml glass beaker by adding peroxide to water (8 ml water and 12 ml peroxide).
• In a 250 ml beaker, place 60 ml of sulfuric acid.
• Slowly add the 20 ml of peroxide to the sulfuric acid. Note: Adding peroxide to the acid is exothermic.
• Immediately add the slides one by one so they are well wetted with the solution, and heat the mixture to 70°C (100°C on a hot plate) for 30 minutes.
• Let it sit overnight.

Day 2:

• Dispose of the piranha solution in a waste container.
• Rinse the slides with approximately 100 ml of deionized water.
• Dispose of the rinsed piranha solution in the waste container. PLEASE DO NOT CLOSE THE WASTE CONTAINER.
• Continue rinsing the slides with abundant deionized water, which can be discarded in the glassware sink.
• Dry the slides with air.
• Perform a final cleaning with isopropanol and air.
• Place the slides in the oven.

Glass Cleaning_ESP

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