TechNotes

Q. What are some best practices for lab cleaning of pipettes. We’re having trouble in our lab removing dried on residues.
A. The principal concern for any scientist or technician working in the laboratory is that glassware, like pipettes, be free of interfering residues after they are cleaned. Unseen residues can wreak havoc on analytical results by inhibiting culture growth, causing cross contamination, non-reproducible results and more.   

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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.

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Q. Lab pipets will not deliver and measure accurately or they may contaminate reagents if they are not cleaned. Their narrow tubular shape is difficult to clean.
A. Use a siphon pipet rinser with Alcotabs …

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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.

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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.

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What is the proper way to dispose of your detergents? Detergent disposal in a proper manner is an integral part of a robust cleaning program regardless of scale or industry. Alconox, Inc. detergents are biodegradable….

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Q: We understand from your literature, that pre-soaking in a solution prior to washing is a good idea.  We are washing pipettes in a syphon washer using your Alcotabs.  Can we create an Alcotabs solution for the pre-soak?  A 1%?  How many tablets? A: Thanks for the inquiry.  Often times, a minor re-purpose of an […]

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Q. Why is it important to pre-soak pipettes in 1% Alconox or Liquinox before washing in pipette siphon washer with Alcotabs?
A. The most common problem in pipette cleaning is residues that dry on after use and prior to cleaning. This problem is attributed to the failure to pre-soak the pipettes immediately after use. Our technical experts at Alconox recommend placing soiled pipettes in 1% Alconox or Liquinox solution immediately. Learn More.

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Alcotabs® Tablet Pipet Detergent is a tablet that is designed to effervesce and give time release flotation and detergent cleaning in a siphon pipet washer. Alcotabs detergent dissolve to a pH near 7, starting out acidic and the pH rises as the effervescence slows down and eventually stops. The tablets contain anionic surfactants, phosphates, carbonates and organic acids.

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Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner, Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent, Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent, Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent, and Alcotabs® Tablet Pipet Detergent all contain roughly 5-20% sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate surfactant. The aquatic toxicity is derived from the surfactant. This surfactant is sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate.

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