Description
🫧 Sodium Hypochlorite 10% (NaOCl) — the standard surface sterilisation agent for TC explants. Effective, cheap, and leaves no toxic residue after rinsing. The first line of defence against contamination.
| 🧪 CAS | 7681-52-9 | 🔬 Grade | TC / Laboratory |
| 📦 Active Cl₂ | ≈10% w/v | 🌡️ Storage | Cool, dark, ventilated; use within 6 months |
🫧 Surface sterilisation protocol
| Use | Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissues (leaf, meristem) | 0.5–1% NaOCl (dilute 1:10–1:20) | 5–10 min, gentle agitation |
| Harder tissues (stem, tuber) | 1–2% NaOCl | 10–20 min |
| Orchid seeds | 0.5–1% NaOCl | 5–10 min, then 3× sterile water rinse |
| Seeds with hard coat | 2–3% NaOCl | 20–30 min |
| Woody stem segments | 1.5–2% NaOCl + Tween-20 | 15–20 min |
⚠️ Key safety notes
⚠️ Always work under a laminar flow hood when opening NaOCl. Concentrated NaOCl releases chlorine gas — do not mix with acids (HCl, citric acid) — toxic Cl₂ gas is produced instantly. Wear nitrile gloves and eye protection.
💡 Freshness matters! NaOCl degrades on shelf — 10% solution loses ~1% active Cl₂ per month at RT. If sterilisation starts failing, replace your stock before blaming the protocol.
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