I am trying to lyophilize small volumes of whole extracted soil organisms (nematodes and smaller). I don't have any experience with this...but I do know that it is a benchtop unit that is generally used with larger volumes ~10mL or more. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to maybe use this unit with smaller volumes without purchasing a smaller flask? The lab I will be working in has 600mL flasks and generally use them with 50mL conicals tubes (falcon and the like). If you have any ideas, please do let me know! Especially if you have done this before-- we are thinking of cutting the lids from the 1.5mL eppendorf tubes and placing them just so-- but it's very possible that this is a bad idea! Thanks in advance.
Dear Mrs. Rivera,
Should not be a problem. The bigger the surface to volume ratio, the better. Freeze your samples well and put them in the freeze dryer.
Alexander Schouten.
Eppendorf tubes are OK! Usually we close them and leave the lid on. We poke holes with needles through the lid. Alternatively, you might cut off the lid and seal the tubes with parafilm and then poke holes.
You should be good with your eppendorfs. I have done that in the past and works well. make sure your samples are well frozen and covered (poked lid or parafilm, both are fine); the first times i did freeze dry without covering my samples and many spilled out of the tubes (especially at the begging of the process when you establish the vacuum).
Don't cut the lids off your eppendorfs as you risk contamination when returning the pressure to atmospheric in your lyophilisor. Poke holes in the lid (with a syringe needle or a scalpel). They will dry fine. Just make sure you freeze your samples well (ideally in -80C) and then place in the lyophilisor. If the sample bubbles out of the holes, you need to freeze your samples for longer as it suggests the sample is boiling and not subliming.
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