TechNotes

Q. How can I clean proteins, RNA, and DNA from laboratory equipment?

A. Thank you for your question concerning cleaning proteins, RNA and DNA from laboratory equipment.

We will address each separately . . .

Read the full story

Adding bleach to Alconox and Liquinox detergents can be done to enhance the disinfecting and oxidizing properties of these cleaners. Adding oxidizing does bring one more cleaning mechanism to the cleaning process which can be helpful if you are trying to clean dyes, pigments, heavy burned on organic residues and other residues that are labile to oxidation. You can get some disinfection, but as we will explain, you need to clean a surface first before you disinfect.

Read the full story

Q. Our lab just has a regular household dishwasher that we use to clean labware. I heard this is not ideal, but it’s what we have. We’re using Alcojet detergent, but the instructions say to turn it into a liquid by diluting….

Read the full story

Q. Is there any way to “eyeball” surface tension to see if it’s dropping when roughly measuring concentration or bath life?  
A. To numerically measure surface tension, you need a tensiometer and this is the recommended method. Tensiometers come in many varieties including…

Read the full story

Q: We manufacture medical devices. Can we use our Alconox or Citranox bath solution more than once? How do we know that we need to change the solution?

A: For the highest level of cleanliness, you only use a solution once. In general, in a medical device manufacturing and cleaning operation, a detergent bath will typically easily last for 8 hours.

For example, you can make up a fresh Alconox® or Citranox® solution once a day and then verify that the pH has not changed more …

Read the full story

Q: We use Alconox on the medical device parts we manufacture that need cleaning before shipment. Alconox detergent is working in an excellent way with austenitic stainless steel parts, but is not working that well with martensitic stainless steel. Actually, at the end of the process cleaning martensitic steel, we notice some marks on the material. Any recommendations?

Read the full story

Clean laboratory glassware is essential in all laboratories. No scientist, engineer, laboratory technician, or analyst has time to fail an experiment because of contaminated glassware.  

Good, well-built, precision detergents (like the Alconox, Inc. portfolio of course) can make up for quite of bit incomplete, inefficient or incorrect glassware cleaning techniques.

Read the full story

Q. Currently using Alconox, but are considering a switch to liquinox. We have seen less residuals with Liquinox, which is desireable. What are the recommendations and concerns with switching from Alconox to Liquinox? What are the difference in ingredients between the two?
A. Alconox and Liquinox are functionally equivalent cleaners, but are not chemically identical. Click to learn more and access the Liquinox and Alconox msds.

Read the full story

What is the best way for removing wax from pipettes and glassware? The best way to clean wax and petrolatum from pipettes is to use very hot 1% solutions.

Read the full story

A non-free rinsing cleaner might contain fragrances that were designed to deposit and leave a fresh scent, or it might contain corrosion inhibitors that are designed to deposit and leave behind an anti-corrosion film.

Alconox, Inc, cleaners are free rinsing detergents and do not leave deposits on substrates after rinsing.

Read the full story