Phloroglucinol and Toluidine Blue

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » 12 Feb 2007, 12:56

Greetings all,

Can anyone tell me how to make up solutions of the above two chemicals. Both are used to stain lignin. We have always purchased solutions already made up, however, unable to source solutions we now have only solid chemicals and I cannot find recipes for either.

Thanks,

Robbie

J · Post by J » 12 Feb 2007, 13:41

Hi Robbie

The following recipe is in "Science Job Skills for School Assistants Working in Science".

Dissolve 0.05g toluidine blue stain in 100ml water and place in dropper bottle.
Note: works only on fresh plant material. Useful also in "plant structures" exercise. A positive reaction will give a greenish-blue (aqua) colour change. Unlignified cell walls stain a pink-purple.

There are no instructions in this publication for Phloroglucinol except that it is supplied ready-made.

Good luck
Julie

gwen · Post by **gwen** » 12 Feb 2007, 13:53

Hi Robbie,

Two recipes from " The Laboratory" by B. Dungey.

PHLORGLUCINOL
0.1 g Phloroglucin
100 mL 70 % ethanol
Dissolve the phloroglucin in the ethanol.

Prepare soln several weeks before using.

Either soak the material in this soln for 3-5 min and transfer to conc.HCl.
Or Mix 100 mL phloroglucinol soln with 20 ml conc HCl and soak material for 5 min.

TOLUIDINE BLUE
0.05 g toluidine blue
100 mL distilled water
Dissolve toluidine blue in distilled water

I hope this helps.

Cheers,
Gwen

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » 13 Feb 2007, 08:41

Julie and Gwen,

Many thanks. Your blood's worth bottling!!

Robbie