Microfluidizer - glasgowlab/home GitHub Wiki

How to operate microfluidizer (100mLs minimum sample)

  1. Check if cooling unit (metal cylinder with coil) contains any water. If so, loosen clamp and drain. Tighten clamp and fill cooling unit with an ice water mixture. (Depending on how long it takes to process your sample, you may need to drain the water and add more ice periodically).
  2. If sample port (class cylinder) is empty, fill to top with water. If 70% isopropanol is still present, leave it.
  3. Turn on unit (white switch on left side), then motor (green button on front). Should get noisy.
  4. PRIME SYSTEM: Make sure the hose is attached to prime valve and that liquid will flow to a collection container (ie. waste). Open silver valve. Pull up intensifier (black button on front) to start flow. Liquid will flow out of the prime valve. After 3-4 pumps, push black button to stop. CLOSE VALVE
  5. CHECK PRESSURE: Open black valve. Pull black button. Adjust to desired pressure with knob on front (It should be more than 400 psi). Push black button to stop. CLOSE VALVE
  6. Pull up black button to start flow of water. Shortly before liquid reaches the bottom, push black button to stop flow so air doesn't enter the system.
  7. Add ~100mL of your buffer to the sample port. Pull up black button to start flow through.
  8. Add your sample to the sample port. Pull up black button to start flow but let 5 pumps flow through before collecting your sample (void volume).
  9. Pass sample through system as many times as desired.
  10. After last sample pass, add ~100 mL buffer. Collect another 7 pumps to get sample remaining in the void volume.
  11. CLEAN SYSTEM: Fill sample port to top with water and let flow through MAIN VALVE. After water has flowed through, repeat with water through the PRIME VALVE (see step 4).
  12. CLEAN SYSTEM: Add 70% isopropanol and wash through the PRIME VALVE, and then the MAIN VALVE.
  13. Add 70% isopropanol. After 6 pumps through the main valve, stop the flow and turn off the system (red bottom on front, then white switch on side).
  14. Loosen cooling unit clamp to drain water.

!!!!DO NOT FLOW CLUMPY SAMPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM!!!!