Optimal pH of BAC water

[Sethe]

So I will be buying bac water, not Hospira unfortunately cause availability is pretty bad. I will be testing it with a pH strip, so my question is what is a good/optimal pH for reconstituting reta?

And do I just take some bac out of the vial with a syringe and then pour it on the paper? How much bac on the strip is enough (so that I don't waste more than necessary)?

 

[DrPEPr]

Just make your own bac.

The problem with other (non Hospira or other legit brands) bac is that every vial could be different in terms of sterility, ph, etc.

You'll be wasting money.

Sterile water for injections (Braun) is only €2.36/$2.76 per 100ml. Benzyl Alcohol is ~€15/$17 per liter.

Add 1ml of BA to your sterile water and you're done.

(yes that gives you a 1% solution instead of 0.9% but that's within spec. and easy to measure.)

 

[BNLFL]

Hospira is 5.7 which is ideal. I read the acceptable range is 4.5-7.

 

[Sethe]

Just make your own bac.

The problem with other (non Hospira or other legit brands) bac is that every vial could be different in terms of sterility, ph, etc.

You'll be wasting money.

Sterile water for injections (Braun) is only €2.36/$2.76 per 100ml. Benzyl Alcohol is ~€15/$17 per liter.

Add 1ml of BA to your sterile water and you're done.

(yes that gives you a 1% solution instead of 0.9% but that's within spec. and easy to measure.)

Does the water have to be from Braun? I think availability in central Europe is not that good for it either

 

[skaylife]

Just make your own bac.

The problem with other (non Hospira or other legit brands) bac is that every vial could be different in terms of sterility, ph, etc.

You'll be wasting money.

Sterile water for injections (Braun) is only €2.36/$2.76 per 100ml. Benzyl Alcohol is ~€15/$17 per liter.

Add 1ml of BA to your sterile water and you're done.

(yes that gives you a 1% solution instead of 0.9% but that's within spec. and easy to measure.)

I did the same. Bought 1 liter sterile injection water from an online pharmacy for € 3.5 and 1/2 liter Benzyl alcohol from an online laboratorium shop for € 13. Added 9 ml BA to 1 liter sterile water. Final pH 6.3 on refractometer. Used laminaire flow hood and sanitized workplace with 70% isopropyl alcohol during process. Have been growing mushrooms before. Have all equipment at home.

 

[DrPEPr]

I did the same. Bought 1 liter sterile injection water from an online pharmacy for € 3.5 and 1/2 liter Benzyl alcohol from an online laboratorium shop for € 13. Added 9 ml BA to 1 liter sterile water. Final pH 6.3 on refractometer. Used laminaire flow hood and sanitized workplace with 70% isopropyl alcohol during process. Have been growing mushrooms before. Have all equipment at home.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I used 1ml of benz. alc. with 1L of sw. and hit a pH of 6.2, so that seems to align perfectly.

I’m currently (ab)using a lab at my work, but I’m considering a desktop laminar flow hood for home use.

What laminar flow hood do you use?

I was looking at the AliExpress models in the €450–€800 range? I'm curious if they're reliable.

 

[Fostradamus]

Does the water have to be from Braun? I think availability in central Europe is not that good for it either

Others on here have recommended Ampuwa WFI. I'm currently traveling around mainland Europe and intend to pick some up once I reach Germany.

 

[DrPEPr]

Others on here have recommended Ampuwa WFI. I'm currently traveling around mainland Europe and intend to pick some up once I reach Germany.

Seems good.

If you get the glass bottles of Ampuwa with butyl stoppers you basically have the same stuff as the Braun or AquaSterop.

 

[Fostradamus]

Seems good.

If you get the glass bottles of Ampuwa with butyl stoppers you basically have the same stuff as the Braun or AquaSterop.

And I'll be following your advice from another thread and adding my own benzyl alcohol when I get home.

 

[skaylife]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I used 1ml of benz. alc. with 1L of sw. and hit a pH of 6.2, so that seems to align perfectly.

I’m currently (ab)using a lab at my work, but I’m considering a desktop laminar flow hood for home use.

What laminar flow hood do you use?

I was looking at the AliExpress models in the €450–€800 range? I'm curious if they're reliable.

May be it will sound crazy. But I have made my laminaire flow hood myself. I was growing mushrooms as a hobby and didn't need a professional one. I made a research about how it works and learned it from somebody else. Bought everything from the store which you can see on the last pic. Just at the department where they sell air cleaners, ionisers. All you need is a hepafilter, carbonfilter, plastic box with a cover, 12V fan, 12v adpter with a potentiometer for arranging fan speed and a digital particles counter. You must make a hole on one side of the box to place the hepa and carbonfilters behind each other and another hole on the side wall of the box to place the fan. Fan may not stand behind the filters. Otherwise you won't get laminaire air flow. Bad particles counter can detect particles as small as 2.5 micron. You must place it preferabbly on a clean glass table which you have sanitized with isopropyl alcohol. No other air flow, pets or people walking around in the room where you will proceed. Place the particles counter in front of the filter at a distance of 15-20 cm's. Start the fan at maximum speed and wait a few mimutes. Then you will see that the amount of particles will decrease until it reaches 0. After that you can rarely see 1-2 particles. But it is not optimal yet. You must hold the device at different places in front of the filter and see you have the same meeting everywhere. To get the same result everywhere you must slowly reduce the speed of the fan. When you get that result, it is laminaire air flow. Then you can do the work infront of the filter within 30 cm distance. Only 12v adapter was ordered from aliexpress. Total cost is less than € 100. But it absolutely works. Do it as fast as possible in order to reduce the chance of any kind of contamination. You can even build a cleanroom if you buy a ready to use laminaire flow hood the price range you have mentioned. Not at aliexpress. But at alibaba from a wholesales company. Someone I know has bought one for +-$500 at a size of 60x120 cm and built a 12m² cleanroom. He produces mushroom cultures professionally and sells. Working with mushroom cultures and spores is much more delicate than preparing your peptides. If it is not for professional use, one like I have does the job.

 

[DrPEPr]

Oh wow... thanks for the write-up.

While I'm definitely a DIY guy, I think I prefer a 'plug-'n-play' solution.

I mean, come on... ain't she a beauty

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[skaylife]

Oh wow... thanks for the write-up.

While I'm definitely a DIY guy, I think I prefer a 'plug-'n-play' solution.

I mean, come on... ain't she a beauty

View attachment 23214

It is definitely nice. Lets me think of still air box which I was using before. But I don't like working only with my hands inside. Limits movement. You can sure open front cover. But then you can't call it a laminaire flow hood anymore. Because air coming from upside will turn back from the bottom together with some air from outside. I just made it for the challenge and send it here with the thought that may be someone can find it usefull and use the idea. Further, I will stay on-topic. Success!