[3dem] Quality of ethane

[Reinhard Rachel]

Dear Esther, 

> We have always bought technical grade ethane rather than the high purity. 
Unfortunately, we do not have this kind of labeling. What we have is "Ethan 2.5" which is >= 99.5% ethane; what is also available: "Ethan 3.5", >= 99.95% ethane, but we do not buy this. 

>  By the bottom of the tank, the grids have contamination, and so we switch it out.
we have not observed it - yet. Maybe we stopped using it before it was really empty?

> This last time, the tank cost half the price, and has been showing 
> contamination pretty soon after we started using it.  Perhaps it is now a 
> lower grade.
Does this batch of ethane give you the "%"?
and, how does the sum that you pay less ("half the price"), compare to the cost of preparing your valuable samples, and to the cost of running the cryoTEM? Is it worth?

> Do people recommend buying the high purity ethane?  My understanding is that 
> it then freezes very rapidly, so one must contend with thawing it often.
we are happy with the ethane 99.5% - we could buy a 99.95% ethane, but with our experience, we do not see a need to do so. 
HTH, and kind regards,
Reinhard

-- 
Prof. Dr. Reinhard Rachel
University of Regensburg
Centre for EM / Anatomy
Faculty of Biology & Preclin. Med.
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D-93053 Regensburg - Germany
tel +49 941 943 2837, 1720
fax +49 941 943 2868
mail reinhard.rachel at biologie.uni-regensburg.de
office: VKL 3.1.29 
 
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