Polyethylene Glycol Distearate 600 With 10% 1-Hexadecanol; A Superior Embedding Wax for WARM Climates

A mixture of 90% polyethylene glycol distearate 600 and 10% 1-hexadecanol has a melting point of approximately 43 C and is suitable as a replacement for conventional polyester wax where laboratory temperatures are above 24 C. Sections are attached to slides by floating out on 10% formalin and picked up on slides precoated with undiluted egg albumen. Since the wax is opaque, very small specimens can be embedded after fixation in a block of 0.5% agar before dehydration and embedding in wax, thus facilitating their handling and orientation. The wax mixture sections well with a razor blade in a holder.