I believe that increased volume no matter how many containers yields longer autoclave time. However I am being told it doesn't unless the volume is increased in the same container. (i.e.-2000 mL in one bottle versus 4 bottles with 500mL in each). If this is true I would like this explained logically. In addition, our autoclave chart says 45 min for 1L liquid, but we are using it for LB agar and broth and were told to only do 30 mins to make sure the sugars and other components aren't affected from the heat. Thoughts on this would also be appreciated.
I was taught to use a reference bottle which is filled with approximately the volume of water that the largest bottle has you want to autoclave. Then you put the thermometer of the autoclave into this reference bottle. This ensures that you reach the necessary temperature in your medium etc.
Of course it takes longer to heat 2 L of aqueous solution to a given temperature compared to 0.5 L.
If you have heat sensitive components, I recommend to filter these solutions into a sterile container (cut off 0.22 µm typically).
My biggest questions is--> autoclaving a 2L media bottle versus autoclaving six 500mL media in separate bottles (total volume of 3L) which is more than the 2L but only 500mL in each. What should the 2L bottle be versus the six 500mL. I am hearing different answers and wants to sort this out logically.
Hey, Julia. I see this question ocationally. And I wanna give some opinons from my side. I think the different between 2L in 1 bottle and 3L in 5 bottles is the contact area of the total water back. As teat might pass slower through water than air, so littile volume in each bottles may allow faster transition to all the water inside compared to large volume. The thing is the 5 bottles would be heated simutaneously, so that the question might be 500mL versus 2L under ieally heating condition. What do you think then? Whether my reply make sense?
All the best!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Microbiology
- Microorganisms