The CryoCup Grinder II is a fantastic improvement on the original grinder.
The CryoCup Grinder II features an indestructible solid stainless steel mortar surrounded by a grippy silicone insulating sleeve. The CryoCup Grinder II is built for years of tough milling.
Up to 10 grams of hard frozen tissue is placed in the mortar pre-cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature. Using the special hand-held pestle made of non-heat conducting plastic, tissue is quickly ground to a powder.
The CryoCup Grinder II provides superior results compared to conventional ceramic mortar-pestles and even the original Cryo-Cup Grinder. Once cooled, the solid stainless steel mortar of the CryoCup Grinder II stays cold 7 times longer than the original! This phenomenal temperature retention allows for longer milling times needed for tougher tissues.
Simple to use; just cool the CryoCup Grinder II in the freezer for several hours. Then remove and add liquid nitrogen to the mortar until the liquid nitrogen no longer evaporates or you reach your appropriate grinding temperature. Next add your hard frozen sample to the mortar and mill with the pestle until the sample is sufficiently ground.
Features :
- Ideal for extraction of proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids
- Stainless steel mortar strictly regulates temperature. Once cooled, no further liquid nitrogen is need during grinding
- Designed for 100mg to 10 grams of fresh tissue
- Non-porous, stainless steel mortar minimizes sample loss
- Easily cleaned. Sterilizable and autoclavable
Instructions for CryoCup Grinder II
The CryoCup Grinder II is an insulated stainless steel mortar and pestle specifically designed to pulverize and grind frozen plant and animal tissue samples at liquid nitrogen temperatures.
The CryoCup Grinder II features an indestructible solid stainless steel mortar surrounded by a grippy silicone insulating sleeve.
Up to 10 grams of hard frozen tissue is placed in the mortar pre-cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature. Using the special hand-held pestle made of non-heat conducting plastic, tissue is quickly ground to a powder.
Selecting the correct size pestle: For samples over 4 grams, start with the smaller ball (1 3/8 inch diameter). Use the larger ball (1 7/8 inch diameter) with smaller sized samples. The larger ball will give a finer grind.
Cooling: Cool the CryoCup Grinder II in the freezer for several hours. This will bring down the core temperature and allow the liquid nitrogen to cool more efficiently. Using a Dewer flask as the container, draw out a few cups of liquid nitrogen from a liquid nitrogen tank. Slowly add liquid nitrogen to the CryoCup Grinder II. At first, liquid nitrogen will quickly evaporate off the mortar’s surface. Continue to slowly add liquid nitrogen until a small amount of liquid nitrogen remains in the mortar. The CryoCup Grinder II is now cold enough to proceed with grinding. There is no need to maintain a puddle of liquid during use. The cup will retain its cold temperature long enough to complete the grinding. Further addition of liquid nitrogen may be needed if you are working up multiple samples.
Because the pestle ball is made of inert plastic, it is a poor heat conductor. That is the intent of the design. The pestle will not transfer sufficient heat to the sample during grinding to melt the sample. Do not try to thoroughly cool the pestle. At the most, cool its surface briefly with liquid nitrogen. Deep cooling of the pestle will cause stress cracks and eventual destruction of the pestle ball. There is an exception to this advice: If you have purchased an accessory solid stainless steel ball, it should be thoroughly cooled before use. A stainless steel pestle ball is only needed if you are processing many samples and/or the grinding process goes on for an extended time.
Grinding: The tissue sample MUST BE HARD FROZEN in liquid nitrogen before attempting to grind. Begin with a downward, circular motion of the pestle inside the cup. Sometimes it will be necessary to gently hammer the sample with the pestle to break it up into smaller sized pieces so that the circular motion of the pestle can finish the grinding. Work quickly in transferring the ground sample. Once removed from the stainless steel cup surface it can quickly thaw.
Cleaning: Prompt washing and drying of all parts is recommended. Despite the name, stainless steel can be attacked by biomaterial. Washed parts can be autoclaved, if desired.
