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Method for Preparing Sterile Solutions of Volatile Organic Compounds

Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis

ABSTRACT

Frequently, microbiologists and biochemists wish to add known amounts of organic compounds to cultures or biological preparations in the course of metabolic studies. Usually, it is desirable to avoid microbial contamination of the culture or biological preparation. Sterilization of solutions of relatively nonvolatile compounds presents no particular difficulty, and either heat or Millipore filtration can be used by observing only minor precautions to avoid loss of the compound. If a sterile solution of a highly volatile compound is required, however, special precautions must be observed. Sealed glass ampoules provide leak-proof containers in which volatile compounds can be autoclaved, but they are time-consuming to prepare and difficult to work with.

In this study various concentrations of acetaldehyde, acetone, ethyl acetate, and ethanol were autoclaved for 15 min in 15-cm culture tubes with Teflon-lined screw caps (Kimble no. 45066-A; Owens-Illinois Glass Co., Toledo, Ohio). Solutions were prepared, divided into two portions, and dispensed into culture tubes.