How do you prevent electrodes from rust?

[Tony]

Hey guys, I'm really new here, I built a small gel electrophoresis device but everytime I use it, the electrodes rust up like nothing I've ever seen, and I end up with a pile of metallic mush in the buffer solution. I'm just wondering how this is usually prevented? This has happened with steel plated screws as well as gold-plated electrodes.

Thanks guys

[scoc...@gmail.com]

Maybe try graphite rods from heavy duty D cell batteries? I did some electrolysis a while back and after a few runs no soot formed. Never tried with higher voltages though.

Sebastian S. Cocioba
CEO & Founder
New York Botanics, LLC
Plant Biotech R&D

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From: Tony
Sent: ‎3/‎27/‎2015 4:00 PM
To: diy...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [DIYbio] How do you prevent electrodes from rust?

Hey guys, I'm really new here, I built a small gel electrophoresis device but everytime I use it, the electrodes rust up like nothing I've ever seen, and I end up with a pile of metallic mush in the buffer solution. I'm just wondering how this is usually prevented? This has happened with steel plated screws as well as gold-plated electrodes.

Thanks guys

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[Nathan McCorkle]

On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 1:04 PM, <scoc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Maybe try graphite rods from heavy duty D cell batteries? I did some
> electrolysis a while back and after a few runs no soot formed. Never tried
> with higher voltages though.

I haven't tried electrophoresis with graphite from mechanical pencils,
but they worked fine for electrolysis of salt water. After a while
they showed some splintering... but FYI, it should probably work for a
single-time use at least.

Otherwise, get some platinum wire... there may be another cheaper
alternative that still corrodes, but at a very very slow rate compared
to whatever... search a bit in the DIYbio archives and you should find
it (I just used the keyword platinum in the archives, and I think the
conversation I'm referring to is called "Non-Platinum Electrophoresis
Electrodes That Don't Degrade").

[scoc...@gmail.com]

I've never tried pencil lead but the graphite I was referring to is the 1/4" diameter D-Cell cathode. Its only found on heavy duty cells. It looks like a stick of chalk but made of carbon. Those electrodes can take a beating. Nathan is right. Somewhere in the list archives was extensive talk about non-platinum electrodes.

Sebastian S. Cocioba
CEO & Founder
New York Botanics, LLC
Plant Biotech R&D

---

From: Nathan McCorkle
Sent: ‎3/‎27/‎2015 5:26 PM
To: diybio
Subject: Re: [DIYbio] How do you prevent electrodes from rust?

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[Avery louie]

316 stainless steel wire.  You can get it on amazon.

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[Avery louie]

Or platinum, but that is way expensive.

Things I have tried:

Nitanol (the super-flexible kind, not the SMA)

ENIG finished PCBs

Both do not stand up to electrophoresis.

amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001381C8M/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

--A

[John Griessen]

On 03/27/2015 08:53 PM, Avery louie wrote:
> 316 stainless steel wire.

What about nichrome wire use for heater elements? It might be even higher in chromium %
than 316, which is higher than 18-8 food grade S.S.

[Jeff Backstrom]

Anyone ever try niobium? Relatively cheap.

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[Avery louie]

Never tried either of those- definitely tried 316 and it worked great.

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[Tony]

thank you for all of the suggestions, I will take a look in the morning!