Tricks of the Trade: Particle Mounting Methods

Extract

Those of us who have particle identification problems sometimes have very small samples, say, only a few nanograms - even less sometimes. We also like to make up permanent Aroclor 5442 preparations of these tiny samples for safe keeping and future reference. If we mount such small samples in a normal drop of Aroclor filling an 18 mm diameter coverslip, we may spend a few frustrating minutes looking for the sample in a few acres of Aroclor. My solution is to use a very tiny Arocior droplet under a small coverslip. Ten millimeter or smaller round coverslips are available from Erie Scientific in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.