SPI-Chem Ruthenium Tetroxide Staining Kit (100g SodiumPeriodate+2x5gRuO2){Include Instructions}
| Availability | Contact for Availability |
|---|---|
| Item | 02592-AB |
| Part # | Description | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| 02594-AB | Sodium Periodate NaIO4 | 1 |
| 02596-AB | Ruthenium Oxide (IV) Hydrate RuO2 | 2 |
Ruthenium, because of its high atomic number, enhances image contrast just as is the case for osmium when examining certain rubber modified polymer systems as well as certain life science specimens. Because of the higher reactivity of ruthenium relative to osmium tetroxide, there actually are a number of systems that won't stain hardly or at all with osmium tetroxide but will stain quite readily with ruthenium tetroxide. There are also a number of applications for the ruthenium tetroxide staining of certain multiphase polymer systems.
Special note:
There have been some "reports" that ruthenium tetroxide penetration into tissue is greatly inferior than it is for osmium tetroxide. We are not certain that is especially applicable to users of the SPI-Chem ruthenium tetroxide kit, where the active species is generated "on the spot" and the staining is essentially done from the vapor state, on sections. If you have tried the other methods and had unsatisfactory results, it might be worth trying this SPI-Chem ruthenium tetroxide kit.
For many years, the use of ruthenium tetroxide was greatly limited because of the explosive nature of the tetroxide and in some laboratories, there were prohibitions against its use. For example, RuO4 in whatever form is generally regarded as too unstable for safe laboratory storage under any circumstances. And very frankly, we would be afraid to ship anything that unstable anyhow!
But now SPI Supplies is pleased to offer what we consider to be "Laboratory Safe", from the standpoint if stability and explosion hazard. NOTE: We are saying it is "safe" from the standpoint of it being an explosion hazard, but when the kit is used to generate RuO4, the resulting compound is every bit as hazardous from the standpoint of exposure as any other RuO4 (or OsO4 for that matter).
The secret of the SPI developed kit is this: We utilize ruthenium (IV) oxide hydrate, a crystalline solid, and sodium periodate, both of which are safe and stable, to "make", when mixed together, RuO4 in extremely small quantities. Once mixed, so long as the instructions are followed exactly, the amount of the dangerous component is quite small, bordering on being minuscule, and whatever hazards would normally be associated with the use of RuO4 in other circumstances are greatly reduced.
Disposal considerations:
The use of RuO4, which is being generated in minute quantities, results in the reduction of the material from RuO4 to RuO2, in comparison, a relatively nonreactive compound, with properties much like OsO2, similarly nonreactive. The formula calls for the use of an excess of the periodate, however, sodium periodate in aqueous solution itself is not stable and quickly breaks down, again, to relatively nonreactive species.
In any case, the mass of the tetroxide when used this way, as opposed to the way osmium tetroxide is normally used, involves a far smaller amount of this nonrenewable resource.
Complete instructions for the preparation of 0.67% aqueous RuO4 solution are included with each kit.