How to avoid moisture in cell culture medium powder?

I. Select Appropriate Storage Containers

1. Containers with Good Sealing
   • It is crucial to use containers with excellent sealing properties to store cell culture medium powder. For example, plastic or glass containers with rubber gaskets. Such gaskets can effectively prevent outside air from entering the interior of the container. Once the container is sealed, it can form a relatively independent space, blocking the contact between moist air and the powder.
   • Some storage bottles provided by professional cell – culture consumable suppliers are designed specifically for storing cell culture media, and their sealing performance has been rigorously tested, which can well meet the anti – moisture requirements.
2. Containers Made of Moisture – proof Materials
   • Select containers made of moisture – proof materials. For example, multi – layer composite plastic containers have an internal structure with low moisture permeability, which can prevent water vapor from penetrating. Some specially – treated metal containers have internal coatings that can prevent water vapor from condensing on the container walls, thereby avoiding powder moisture.

II. Control the Humidity of the Storage Environment

1. Use Desiccants
   • Placing desiccants inside the container storing cell culture medium powder is a simple and effective anti – moisture method. Common desiccants include silica gel desiccants, which have a porous structure and can adsorb a large number of water molecules.
   • Place an appropriate amount of silica gel desiccant inside the storage container. When a small amount of water vapor enters the container, the desiccant can quickly absorb this water vapor, maintaining a dry environment inside the container. Generally, about 10 – 15 grams of silica gel desiccant can be placed per liter of container volume.
2. Use Dehumidification Equipment
   • Install dehumidification equipment in the room or storage cabinet where cell culture medium powder is stored. For example, electronic dehumidifiers can remove moisture from the air through condensation or adsorption principles, controlling the environmental humidity at a low level.
   • For large – scale cell – culture laboratories, professional dehumidification systems are usually equipped to maintain the humidity of the entire laboratory between 40% and 60%, ensuring that the cell culture medium powder does not get damp during storage.

III. Standardize the Operating Procedures

1. Operate Quickly
   • When taking cell culture medium powder, try to shorten the operation time as much as possible. For example, when taking a small amount of powder from a large package for preparation, prepare the required tools and containers in advance and complete the weighing operation quickly and accurately.
   • Because during the operation, every additional second of exposure increases the risk of the powder getting damp. If the operation is slow, the surrounding moist air will have more opportunities to come into contact with the powder, causing it to get damp.
2. Avoid Operating in High – Humidity Environments
   • Do not operate cell culture medium powder in environments with high humidity. For example, avoid opening storage containers on rainy days or in rooms with humidity greater than 70%.
   • If it is impossible to avoid operating in a high – humidity environment, a small – scale dry – operation box can be prepared in advance, and operations such as taking and preparing the powder can be carried out inside the operation box. Desiccants can be placed inside the operation box or a small – scale dehumidification device can be connected to maintain a dry environment.