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Getting Triton X-100 into solutionArticle created: Nov 12, 2007
Article by: Jeremiah Faith
 Click image for larger Pipetting Triton X-100 Like any viscous material, your pipetting accuracy will be much higher if you pipette very slowly - the slower, the better. Getting Triton X-100 into solution The biggest challenge in working with Triton X-100 is that it likes to clump up when you dilute it into other solutions. Below are a few things that make it easier to get Triton X-100 into solution. Add any salts first Triton X-100 is much more soluble in high salt solutions, so if your solution requires any salts, add them before you add the Triton X-100. Do not stop inverting the tube (even for a few seconds) Triton X-100 likes to settle into an impenetrable clump on the bottom of your tube. The trick is to not let this happen. As soon as possible after you add the Triton X-100 to your solution, begin inverting the tube. Try to invert the tube gently and do not shake the tube, else you'll end up with a tube full of bubbles.
Try not to stop inverting the tube until the viscous detergent pieces are all in solution (i.e. they are no longer visible). If you stop inverting for too long, the Triton X-100 will clump up and stick to the bottom of the tube, and it is really difficult to get the entire clump into solution. Do not chill the solution until there is no visible detergent clumps It is easier to get Triton X-100 into solution when the solution is warm. The first time, I made a buffer that contained Triton X-100, I needed the solution to be at 4C for my experiment. Being in a hurry, I placed the solution at -20C for a few minutes to cool it off faster. Unfortunately, my quickly cooled solution had a Triton X-100 ice cube at the bottom; it would've been faster to just cool the solution in the fridge.
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