20
Figure 11 shows the assembly diagram of the cell and the relative position of the
components. The reagent plate serves two functions: The wall of the reagent plate
stops the descent of the piston and prevents the stir bar from being crushed.
Second, surfactants, especially liquid surfactants, can be weighed directly on this
plate prior to inserting into the mixing chamber. The reagent plate should be placed
at the bottom of the mixing chamber.
Make certain the
WASTE
valve is closed prior to adding reagents to
prevent the reagents from being forced out through this port in
subsequent steps.
Add the reagents in the following order (not all items are used with every sample):
(1) Add the protein / aqueous phase first
(2) Add any liquid co-surfactants such as hexanol
(3) Add the liquid surfactants
(4) Add the dry surfactants
(5) Add other additives such as pentane or carbon disulfide
(6) Always add the stir bar last
Figure 11: View showing internal placement of the mixing chamber components