Lactophenol Oil - BioReagent,Biological Stain,Suitable for microbiology,for microscopy

Cat. No.: C1508763

GRADE & PURITY BioReagent, Suitable for microbiology, Biological Stain, for Microscopy

Synonyms

Lactophenol Solution

Storage

Protected from light,Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Application

Cell Staining, Microbial staining

Overview

Lactophenol cotton blue stain solution can be used to verify that cells maintain their morphology without deformation. It has bactericidal properties, is not prone to drying out, and can preserve samples for an extended period of time. It is a common reagent for the morphological classification of fungal hyphae and spores.

Aladdin lactophenol oil is similar to lactophenol cotton blue stain solution, but does not contain cotton blue dye. Its main components include phenol, lactic acid, and glycerol. It is suitable for the whole-mount preservation of plant tissues, such as algae, pollen grains, epidermal peels, and other small specimens. This reagent is intended for research use only and is not suitable for clinical diagnosis or any other purposes.

Materials to Be Prepared by User:

1. Cover slips and glass slides

2. Microscope

Operating Procedures (For Reference Only):

(I) Plant Materials

1. Take the plant materials to be mounted, such as algae, pollen grains, epidermal peels, etc.

2. Add a drop of lactophenol oil onto the plant materials to ensure that the materials are fully exposed to the mounting medium, while minimizing the formation of air bubbles as much as possible.

(II) Other Samples

Follow the procedures used for tissue sectioning.

Precautions:

1. Prior to mounting, mark a circle on the back of the slide to facilitate locating the sample during subsequent observations.

2. For your safety and health, wear a lab coat and disposable gloves during the operation.

Specifications

Synonyms

Lactophenol Solution

Specifications & Purity

BioReagent,Biological Stain,Suitable for microbiology,for microscopy

Stability And Storage

Store at room temperature long term (12 months). Store in the dark.

Storage

Protected from light,Room temperature

Shipped In

Normal

Grade

Biological Stain, BioReagent, for Microscopy, Suitable for microbiology

Product Line

Biological Products

Chemical and Physical Properties

• Sensitivity: Light-sensitive

Application Protocols

General protocol for preparing fungal mounts with lactophenol-type oil (literature; adapt per your SOP and the product’s SDS/CoA):

• Materials

  • Clean glass slides and coverslips, forceps/needles, this mounting medium, and the specimen (e.g., fungal hyphae/spores from culture).

• Procedure

  1. Place a small drop (≈5–15 µL) of the medium on the center of a clean slide.
  2. Using sterile needles or a loop, gently transfer a minimal amount of mycelium or spores into the drop. Tease apart dense clumps to create a thin, even suspension.
  3. Lower a coverslip at an angle to minimize air bubbles. Avoid excessive pressure that may distort structures.
  4. Allow the preparation to equilibrate for several minutes to enable clearing and refractive index matching. For long sessions, seal edges with nail varnish or a compatible sealant to reduce evaporation.
  5. Examine under brightfield or phase-contrast. Start at low magnification to locate structures, then increase magnification.

• Notes and QC

  • Include a blank slide (medium only) to assess background haze or autofluorescence if imaging across modalities.
  • Record lot number and any observed optical characteristics (viscosity, color tint) for reproducibility.
  • Disposal: collect used slides and wipes as hazardous lab waste according to local regulations.

Safety reminder: Follow PPE practices and the SDS; some formulations may contain phenol or other hazardous constituents.

Biological Roles

Not applicable as an intrinsic biological molecule. This product is a formulated laboratory medium for microscopy and does not play a metabolic or signaling role.

• Context (general/literature)

  • In microscopy of fungi and similar specimens, lactophenol-type media facilitate visualization by clearing tissues and optimizing optical contrast. Any preservative effect is a physicochemical property of the formulation rather than a biological function.

• Practical note

  • For biological assays or culture work, avoid introducing mounting media into living systems. Use only for slide preparation and ex vivo visualization in accordance with your biosafety protocols.

Research Use Note: For research use only (per Product Data).

Buffer Applications

This product is not a buffering agent and is not intended for pH-controlled biochemical assays or electrophoresis. If a pH value is important to your workflow (e.g., dye performance), consult the CoA/SDS and validate on a small scale. For buffer preparation, choose defined systems such as phosphate, Tris, HEPES, or acetate buffers appropriate to the target pH range.

Green Alternatives

Environmental and safety profiles of lactophenol-type media vary with composition. Traditional lactophenol contains phenol, which is acutely toxic and poses waste-management challenges. Where application allows, consider phenol-free or lower-toxicity mounting alternatives.

• Greener options (literature/general)

  • Polyol-based mounting media without phenol (e.g., glycerol-gelatin or aqueous glycerol with mild preservatives) for temporary mounts.
  • Commercial phenol-free fungal mounting oils designed to match refractive index while reducing acute toxicity.
  • Water-based mounting media with biodegradable preservatives when long-term preservation is not required.

• Trade-offs and selection

  • Clearing efficacy: Phenol-containing formulations can clear tough, chitinous structures efficiently; phenol-free options may require longer clearing time or provide slightly reduced contrast.
  • Preservation: Oil-containing media resist evaporation and can extend mount life; aqueous green alternatives may dry faster unless sealed.
  • Optical properties: Refractive index matching is key; confirm RI specifications and test on representative specimens.

• Comparison snapshot (general)

  • Lactophenol-type (traditional): strong clearing, durable mounts; higher toxicity/hazard (if phenol present), hazardous waste stream.
  • Phenol-free mounting oil: moderate-to-strong clearing, improved safety; may need longer equilibration; waste burden reduced.
  • Aqueous glycerol media: low hazard, easy cleanup; best for short-term observation; may show more evaporation and lower clearing power.

Always base selection on your microscopy endpoint, institutional safety policies, and SDS/CoA details for the specific product.

Pharmaceutical Uses

This product is a microscopy mounting/clearing medium for laboratory research and teaching. It is not intended for pharmaceutical formulation, manufacturing, or as an excipient.

• Regulatory status

  • No pharmacopeial monograph or excipient designation is provided in the Product Data. Do not use in drug, diagnostic, or therapeutic applications.

• Laboratory context

  • Suitable for specimen preparation in microbiology/microscopy workflows where optical clarity and preservation are desired. For any regulated imaging associated with product quality or release, document the lot and confirm relevant optical properties via CoA.

Research Use Note: For research use only (per Product Data).

Physical Properties

Item-specific specifications are not provided in the Product Data for this formulated mixture.

• Item-specific values

  • Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Density, viscosity, refractive index, pH, water content: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Boiling point, melting point, flash point: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Solubility: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• General/literature characteristics of lactophenol-type oil mounting media (for context only; mixture-dependent)

  • Physical state: clear, viscous liquid designed for optical transparency under light microscopy.
  • Refractive characteristics: oil-containing variants are formulated to improve refractive index matching to glass and fungal cell walls, enhancing contrast and resolution in brightfield (literature).
  • Volatility: low; high-boiling constituents (e.g., polyols/oils) minimize evaporation during long observations (literature).
  • Solubility profile: typically miscible with many polar organics (due to lactic acid/polyol) and partially compatible with hydrophobic phases (due to oil); exact behavior depends on proprietary ratios (literature).
  • Stability: generally stable at room temperature when protected from light and tightly closed; phenolic components can oxidize and darken over time upon light/air exposure (literature).

Important

• Do not treat the above as specifications for this item. For method validation or regulated work, obtain actual values from the CoA/SDS of SKU C1508763.

Quality & Grades

This product is offered as BioReagent, Suitable for microbiology; Biological Stain; for Microscopy.

• What the listed grades generally imply

  • BioReagent, Suitable for microbiology: manufactured and packaged to support microbial laboratory workflows (e.g., specimen mounting/observation), with attention to contaminants that could interfere with visualization. It does not imply sterility unless explicitly stated in the CoA.
  • Biological Stain; for Microscopy: intended for optical microscopy applications (brightfield/phase contrast). “Stain” designation indicates suitability in staining workflows; specific dye content for this SKU is not specified and should be confirmed on the CoA/SDS.

• Item-specific constraints

  • Exact composition, stabilizers, absorbance background, and refractive index are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Storage: per Product Data, protect from light; store at room temperature. Shipped at ambient conditions.

• Practical implications for users

  • Microscopy media demand low particulate load and optical clarity; BioReagent/microscopy grades help minimize haze, autofluorescent impurities, and background that could obscure fine hyphal structures.
  • For image analysis or quantitative morphometrics, verify lot-to-lot refractive index, viscosity, and any dye content (if present) with the CoA to ensure reproducibility.
  • If using in microbiology teaching or research collections, confirm preservative content (e.g., presence/absence of phenol) based on institutional safety policies and organism handling requirements.

• Documentation

  • For regulated or GLP workflows, retain the CoA and SDS, and document any in-house QC (e.g., background absorbance scans, particulate counts).

Reaction & Applications

Primary application: optical microscopy of biological specimens, especially filamentous fungi and spores, where clearing and refractive index matching aid morphology assessment. It is not intended for chemical reactions.

• Typical laboratory uses (literature/general)

  • Mounting and clearing fungal mycelia, conidiophores, sporangia, and spores from culture plates or environmental samples for brightfield/phase-contrast observation.
  • Temporary-to-semidurable mounts for teaching collections and routine identifications; oil-containing formulations help limit evaporation and crystallization under the coverslip.
  • Wetting and spreading on glass slides to produce uniform thin films that maintain specimen position and orientation for imaging and measurement.

• Practical tips

  • Use small volumes (e.g., a drop) to avoid edge seepage; lower the coverslip at an angle to minimize bubble inclusion.
  • If working with dense or pigmented material, gently tease and thin the sample with dissecting needles before adding the medium to prevent clumping and achieve even clearing (literature).
  • Record medium lot and any dye presence/absence in your lab notebook; refractive index and background tint can subtly affect contrast and image analysis outputs.

• Compatibility notes

  • Verify downstream compatibility if specimens will later be subjected to chemical staining or fluorescence; residual acidic/phenolic components (if present by formulation) may influence certain dyes (literature). Perform a pilot test.

• Not for synthesis

  • This product is not designed for use as a reagent or solvent in chemical reactions or materials processing.

Reaction Conditions

Not applicable. This mounting medium is not intended for chemical reactions.

• If your workflow mistakenly considers this product as a solvent or reactant, select purpose-built reagents instead and consult their CoA/SDS for conditions such as temperature limits, catalysts, and moisture sensitivity.

• For microscopy workflows, see Application Protocols for practical, non-reaction usage guidance.

Safety & Handling

Item-specific GHS classification, H-statements, and pictograms are not provided in the Product Data. Always review the product SDS before use.

• GHS and hazards for this item

  • Signal word, H-statements, pictograms: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.

• General safety notes for lactophenol-type mounting oils (literature/general)

  • Many lactophenol formulations contain phenol (toxic, corrosive, readily absorbed through skin) and organic acids (irritant). Oil phases may reduce volatility but can present slip and contamination hazards. Treat unknown formulations as hazardous until confirmed otherwise by SDS.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)

  • Use chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., nitrile), lab coat, and splash goggles. Work in a well-ventilated area or fume hood when preparing slides or cleaning spills.

• Handling and storage

  • Avoid skin/eye contact and inhalation of aerosols. Keep container tightly closed. Per Product Data: store at room temperature, protected from light. Shipments: normal ambient.
  • Incompatibilities (general): strong oxidizers, strong bases/alkalis (may increase corrosivity or cause exotherm), and reactive metals. Keep away from ignition sources until the flash properties are confirmed on the SDS.

• First aid (overview; defer to SDS)

  • Skin: immediate decontamination with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing.
  • Eyes: rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; seek medical evaluation.
  • Ingestion/inhalation: seek medical attention; do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical personnel.

• Waste

  • Collect as hazardous organic waste; segregate per institutional and local regulations.

Solvent Selection

This product functions primarily as a microscopy mounting/clearing medium rather than as a reaction or extraction solvent.

• Applicability

  • Not typically employed as a bulk solvent for synthesis or purification. Its value lies in optical properties (clarity, refractive index) and specimen clearing/preservation for light microscopy.

• Polarity and miscibility (general, literature)

  • Lactophenol-type oils combine polar constituents (e.g., lactic acid, polyols) with a hydrophobic oil phase, producing a viscous, low-volatility liquid. Such media wet biological specimens well and resist rapid evaporation under a coverslip.
  • Miscibility characteristics are formulation-dependent; these media generally spread uniformly on glass and maintain a stable thin film, which is advantageous for long-term slide observation.

• When to choose such a medium

  • Brightfield visualization of fungi and other chitin-rich structures where refractive index matching and gentle clearing improve contrast.
  • Teaching labs and reference collections requiring durable mounts that resist drying and crystallization.

• Alternatives for other tasks

  • For chemical reactions, use standard solvents (e.g., ethanol, isopropanol, toluene) chosen based on solubility and kinetics—not this mounting medium.
  • For fluorescence microscopy, verify autofluorescence background; if high, consider specialized low-autofluorescence mounting media (literature) and validate with a blank slide control.

Storage & Reconstitution

• Storage conditions (item-specific from Product Data)

  • Store protected from light at room temperature. Keep container tightly closed to minimize oxidation and contamination.
  • Shipped: Normal ambient.

• Reconstitution

  • Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. Mounting media of this type are typically supplied ready-to-use. Do not dilute or modify unless directed by your SOP.

• Handling tips (general)

  • If viscosity increases at low room temperature, allow the bottle to equilibrate to laboratory ambient before use to ensure smooth spreading and bubble-free mounts.
  • Prevent introduction of particulates by avoiding backflow from the slide into the bottle; dispense onto a clean surface or use disposable dropper tips.

• Stability

  • Exact shelf life and stability-indicating features are Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet. As a general practice, protect from prolonged light exposure and air ingress; discard if significant discoloration, phase separation, or precipitate is observed.

• Freeze–thaw guidance

  • Not applicable; store at room temperature per Product Data. Avoid refrigeration/freezing unless explicitly recommended in the CoA, as this can cause phase changes or component crystallization in formulated media.

Structure & Identity

This product is a laboratory mounting/clearing medium known as Lactophenol Oil. It is a formulated mixture rather than a single defined compound.

• Item-specific chemical identifiers

  • Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
  • CAS, SMILES, InChIKey: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.

• Mixture identity (literature/general description)

  • “Lactophenol” formulations in microscopy traditionally comprise lactic acid, phenol, and glycerol; variants may include a hydrophobic oil phase to adjust refractive index and wetting (literature). Dyes (e.g., cotton blue/aniline blue) may be present in staining versions; “Oil” versions are often dye-free mounting media optimized for optical clarity (literature).
  • Functional features (general): acid component (clearing/preservation), phenolic component (biocidal and clearing), polyol humectant (prevents crystallization/evaporation), and an oil phase (refractive index matching, spread).

• Structural features (general, 2D description)

  • Not a single structure; rather, a homogeneous liquid medium composed of small organic molecules (carboxylic acid, phenol, polyol) and a nonpolar oil. No defined stereochemistry for the mixture as a whole.

Notes

• Because this is a formulated mixture, classic single-molecule descriptors (SMILES, InChIKey) are inapplicable. For precise composition and identifiers of this catalog item, consult the product’s CoA/Spec Sheet and SDS.

Synthetic Utility

Not applicable. This product is a formulated microscopy medium and is not used as a reagent, catalyst, building block, or solvent in synthetic chemistry.

• Guidance
  • For synthetic applications requiring phenol, lactic acid, polyols, or oils, source those neat reagents with defined specifications rather than relying on a proprietary mixture intended for microscopy.
  • Use dedicated reaction solvents with specified purity, water content, and UV cutoffs when planning synthesis or analytics.

Target Specificity

Not applicable. This product is not an antibody, probe, or affinity reagent and has no defined antigen/epitope specificity.

• If dye content is present in related products (e.g., cotton blue), staining is non-targeted and based on differential binding/partitioning rather than antigen specificity. Dye content for this SKU is Not specified; refer to CoA/SDS.