Preparation of Dialysis Tubing

Materials

1. Spectra/Por dialysis tubing, 10 mm or 25 mm widths.

2. 0.2 M Na₂CO₃ (42.4 g), 0.01 M EDTA (5.8 g of free acid), 2 liter (use 1 liter for solution 3).

3. 0.01 M N-ethylmaleimide (1.25 g) in solution 2, 1 liter. Wear gloves and mask.

4. 25% EtOH, 1600 ml (400 ml 95% EtOH, 1200 ml distilled H₂O).

Procedure (begin early in the day)

1. Cut tubing into 40 cm pieces. Place 20 pieces of tubing in a 2 liter beaker containing 1 liter distilled H₂O. The water may be pre-heated in a microwave oven. Boil for 30 min. Use a 500 ml flask partially filled with distilled water as a weight to keep tubing under liquid.

2. Drain and boil in 1 liter solution 2 for 30 min.

3. Drain and rinse twice in distilled H₂O.

4. Drain and soak in solution 3 for 2 hr, wear gloves.

5. Drain and rinse twice in distilled H₂O.

6. Drain and boil in distilled H₂O for 30 min.

7. Drain and rinse twice in distilled H₂O.

8. Drain and rinse in 25% EtOH.

9. Drain and store in 25% EtOH at 4^oC.