Mortars and Pestles
Tools used to grind and crush substances into fine powders or pastes, Mortars are bowl-shaped containers and pestles are heavy, rod-shaped tools. Commonly sold as sets but also available separately, mortar and pestle sets may include mortars, pestles, adapters, housings, or other items in several materials.
Mortar and pestle implements have been used since ancient times to crush and grind substances. Mortars can be made of hard materials like wood, metal, ceramic, or hard stone such as granite or marble. Pestles are held in the hand and usually have a tapered, club-like shape. A wet or dry substance is placed in the mortar and the pestle is pressed against it and rotated until the material is pulverized.
What Is the Best Material for a Mortar and Pestle?
The implements must be made of materials that are hard enough to crush the substance without wearing away, but they cannot be brittle or break from the pressure of manipulation. The material should also be cohesive to reduce chipping and non-porous to avoid absorbing or trapping substances. Some rough porcelain mortars and pestles can reduce substances to very fine powders, but are brittle and stain more easily. Porcelain mortars can be pre-conditioned by grinding sand in them to produce a rougher surface. Glass mortars and pestles are stain-resistant and suitable for liquids, but are fragile and do not grind as finely as ceramic sets. Metal mortars and pestles are popular for food preparation.
Mortars and pestles are commonly used to grind and mix substances for dilution, to mask negative qualities, or to add volume to facilitate handling. Drugs can also be finely ground when not available in liquid form, and supplements can be processed to for addition to parenteral nutrition.
Revvity Health Sciences Inc Hard Tissue Homogenizing Mix 2.8 mm Ceramic (2 mL Reinforced Tubes) (1000/pk)
Hard Tissue Homogenizing Mix 2.8 mm Ceramic (2 mL Reinforced Tubes) (1000/pk)
Sigma Aldrich Fine Chemicals Biosciences CoorsTM porcelain mortar O1EA
Mortar with lip glazed outside except for bottom. Order pestle separately.
Cole-Parmer Essentials Mortar and Pestle Set, Porcelain; 500 mL
Mortars are glazed on the outside and pestles are glazed to grinding surface. Features pouring spout for easy pouring. Both mortar and pestle are sold as a set.
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Micro Tissue Grinder Mortar only, 0.1 ml, 4 mm x 65 mm Mortor, 110 mm OAL
Replacement mortor for the Potter-Elvehjem Micro Tissue Grinderis is made of Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass.
Size: 0.1 ml
Mortor: 4 mm x 65 mm
OAL: 110 mm
Sigma Aldrich Fine Chemicals Biosciences CoorsTM porcelain pestle f1EA
Oversized pestle glazed to grinding surface. Order mortar separately.
Electron Microscopy Sciences Dounce Tissue Grinder, 15 ml, 22 mmx 94 mm Mortor, 210 mm OAL
This grinderis ideal for soft tissue and will retain a high percentage of cell nuclei and mitochondria in soft tissues from cell cultures. When in use, the pestle ball is encircled in liquid, which avoids heat buildup by reducing friction. The initial grinding is performed using the "loose" pestle. The grinding process is completed using the "tight" pestle. This grinder is used by moving the pestle up and down, and work best with cell suspensions or very soft tissues. The mortar has a large reservoir and pouring lip and is supplied with "loose” and "tight” pestles. Made of Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass. Autoclavable.
Size: 15 ml
Mortor: 22 mmx 94 mm
OAL: 210 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tenbroeck Tissue Grinder, 15 ml, 22 mm x 94 mm Mortor, 250 mm OAL
Glass Tenbroeck tissue grinders are ideal for grinding liver, heart, and intestine tissue. The grinders are precision made and have interchangeable pestles and tubes so there is no need to keep the components matched and parts are easily replacable. The clearance between pestle and tube is 0.0035 to 0.0065" (0.09 – 0.16 mm). While this grinder is designed for hand operation, it can be slow speed motor-driven by inserting a rubber stopper (side 00) and metal rod into pestle. This unit also features an expanded reservoir and pouring lip. Made from Wheaton 33 borosilicate glass. The hollow pestle can be pack with ice. Autoclavable.
Size: 15 ml
Mortor: 22 mm x 94 mm
OAL: 250 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder PTFE with Radial Serrations, 2 ml, 11 mm x 45 mm Mortor, 203 mm OAL
Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder incorporates a serrated pestle design to disperse homogenate into the mortar cylinder. Standard unit with Teflon pestles are well suited for soft tissue, such as brain and liver.
The tissue grinder are precisely constructed with completely interchangeable parts to allow easier cleaning or replacement of damaged mortars. This unit is autoclavable and can be used for power homogenization as with overhead stirrer. Depth of the serration is 0.20" to 0.25" (0.1 to 0.15 mm).
Size: 2 ml
Mortor: 11 mm x 45 mm
OAL: 203 mm