Uranyl formate

Uranyl Formate preparation

Uranyl formate is not accessible in Europe but Uranyl acetate yes. The grain of uranyl formate is finer than the grain of uranyl acetate and may improve the quality of the negatively stained image

Prepare 1 ml of 2% uranyl acetate in a eppendorf

Add, drop by drop NaOH 10M, a yellow precipitate of uranyl is forming

Spin down 10 minutes at 10000 rpm

The supernatant should be clear. If not, add more NaoH

Spin down again

Remove the clear supernatant and do 5 volumes rinsing with water

Check the pH that should be around 8-9

Remove the supernatant

Add 200 ul of water

Add few drops of formic acid 4M (formic acid pure solution is ~ 20 M)

vortex vigourously, and check the pH that should be finally at 5.

Add water 1 ml qsp to get 2% UF solution

Keep the solution from light.

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