glutaraldehyde

[ gloo-tuh-ral-duh-hahyd ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a nonflammable liquid, C 5 H 8 O 2 , soluble in water and alcohol, toxic and an irritant, used for tanning leather and as a fixative for samples to be examined under the electron microscope.

glutaraldehyde

/ ˌɡluːtəˈrældɪˌhaɪd /

noun

1. a water-soluble oil used as a disinfectant, tanning agent, and in resins. Formula: C 5 H 8 O 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of glutaraldehyde¹

1950–55; glutar(ic acid) + aldehyde

Example Sentences

A review conducted with IPK’s safety committee has shown that the samples were treated with glutaraldehyde fixative, a standard virus inactivation protocol, the statement says; as a result, they were noninfectious and did not need any special approval from the airline to be taken onto the flight.

From Science Magazine

Among the seven were manganese, a metal linked to neurological disorders, and glutaraldehyde, a medical sterilizing agent tied to asthma.

From Slate

Scopes usually undergo “high-level disinfection” between patients, where they are cleaned by hand to remove any visible debris, and then soaked for 20 minutes in 2% glutaraldehyde, a toxic chemical which kills most bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

From Forbes

Cells were washed with serum-free media then fixed with a modified Karmovsky’s fix of 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 4% paraformaldehyde and 0.02% picric acid in 0.1M sodium caocdylate buffer at pH7.2.

From Nature

Anjan sought to remove fluoride from water with biodegradable composites, such as a starch/glutaraldehyde and pectin/cellulose/glutaraldehyde, that could readily be renewed, or recharged, after their depletion.

From Scientific American