I'm doing ATPase activity assays, and trying to minimize free phosphates in the environment. I want to be able to deep clean a set of micropipettes and remove the phosphates from them. Does anyone know of anything that would work for this, but is also safe for use on the pipettes?
Can you explain what sort of micropipettes you are using? In my experience, phosphate contamination comes from detergents used to clean glassware.If you must use glassware that has been washed, rinse it very thoroughly with Milli-Q water. New plasticware and pipet tips do not have detectable phosphate contamination. Milli-Q water is also free of phosphate.
Eppendorf Research Plus pipettes. I'd rather clean the ones we have that are contaminated with phosphates than buy a whole new set.
Here is a video on how to clean the pipettes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0o-VBMVKio
Thank you! I appreciate the help, and I will use the video.
But I still would like any recommendations on an agent that will remove phosphates effectively.
Some phosphate salts are soluble in water, so you should be able to remove them by washing with distilled water. For those that are not soluble in water, such as calcium phosphate, a mild acid such as citric acid would probably work pretty well without damaging the pipettor.
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