Premium
X‐ray microanalysis of epon sections after oxygen plasma microincineration
Author(s) -
Barnard Tudor,
Thomas Richard S.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1978.tb00105.x
Subject(s) - microanalysis , osmium , osmium tetroxide , chemistry , resolution (logic) , scanning electron microscope , oxygen , analytical chemistry (journal) , chlorine , mineralogy , electron microscope , materials science , chromatography , optics , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , artificial intelligence , ruthenium , computer science , composite material , catalysis
SUMMARY Dark gold sections of osmium tetroxide‐fixed, Epon‐embedded brown adipose tissue before and after low‐temperature oxygen plasma microincineration were examined using a high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscope and an energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometer. Microincineration produced ash patterns which were free of organic matrix, chlorine (from the Epon) and probably osmium (from the fixative). X‐ray sensitivity was improved by a factor of 2–4 owing to decreased background, and sulphur, calcium and probably phosphorus were detected in the ash. Fidelity of the ash patterns permitted microanalytical spatial resolution of 0.1 μm or better. Oxygen plasma microincineration is thus shown to offer advantages for high resolution X‐ray microanalysis of conventionally sectioned biological material. Its future application to shock‐frozen, frozen‐dried, unstained sections is indicated.