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.
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tenbroeck Tissue Grinder, 7 ml, 16 mm x 62 mm Mortor, 190 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: 7 ml
Mortor: 16 mm x 62 mm
OAL: 190 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder Pestle, 10 ml, 16 mmx 74 mm Mortor, 219 mm OAL
Replacement part to use in Potter-Elvehjem tissue grinder.
Size: 10 ml
Mortor: 16 mmx 74 mm
OAL: 219 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tissue Grinder, 0.2 ml
0.2 ml micro tissue grinder made from autoclavable Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass.
Size: 0.2 ml
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder Pestle, 30 ml, 24 mmx 118 mm Mortor, 266 mm OAL
Replacement part to use in Potter-Elvehjem tissue grinder.
Size: 30 ml
Mortor: 24 mmx 118 mm
OAL: 266 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder, 15 ml, 19 mm x 94 mm Mortor, 219 mm OAL
These grinder are precisely constructed with completely interchangeable parts to allow easier cleaning or replacement of damaged mortars. Ideal for tissue homogenates and other similar applications. The Teflon pestle is for soft tissues such as brain or liver. The stainless steel rod is 0.25" (6.3 mm) diameter. The grinding chamber clearance is 0.004" to 0.006' (0.1 to 0.15 mm). This unit is autoclavable and can be used for power homogenization as with overhead stirrer.
Size: 15 ml
Mortor: 19 mm x 94 mm
OAL: 219 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder Pestle Serrated, 15 ml, 19 mm x 94 mm Mortor, 219 mm OAL
Replacement part for Potter-Elvehjem Tissue Grinder with radial serrations.
Size: 15 ml
Mortor: 19 mm x 94 mm
OAL: 219 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Mortar for Tapered Tissue Grinder, 15 ml, 18 mmx 114 mm Mortor, 240 mm OAL
Replacement parts for Tapered tissue grinder.
Size: 15 ml
Mortor: 18 mmx 114 mm
OAL: 240 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tenbroeck Tissue Grinder, 40 ml, 32 mm x 140 mm Mortor, 320 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: 40 ml
Mortor: 32 mm x 140 mm
OAL: 320 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Dounce Tissue Grinder, 7 ml, 13 mm x 82 mm Mortor, 175 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: 7 ml
Mortor: 13 mm x 82 mm
OAL: 175 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tapered Tissue Grinder, 5 ml, 13 mm x 93 mm Mortor, 220 mm OAL
This is new design grinder with longer tapered surface on both the mortar and pestle, offering grinding more efficient and less time require. The conical surface allows initial size reduction followed by passage through the cylindrical section for the final homogenization step. It is ideal for homogenization of connective tissue including heart, muscle and lung, as well as skin and plant tissue.
Made from Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass. Interchangeable components takes the hassle out of matching parts. Unit is autoclavable. When the pestle is "bottomed" within the mortar, the clearance is uniform 0.004" to 0.006” (0.1 to 0.15 mm).
Size: 5 ml
Mortor: 13 mm x 93 mm
OAL: 220 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Micro Tissue Grinder, 0.1 ml, 4 mm x 65 mm Mortor, 110 mm OAL
Similar to the all glass Potter-Elvehjem style, but micro size is for extremely precise work. This unit is designed for delicate hand operation. Clearance between pestle and tube is 0.004" to 0.006" (0.1 – 015 mm). Made from Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass. Reservoir and pouring lip are incorporated into the design. Unit is autoclavable.
Size: 0.1 ml
Mortor: 4 mm x 65 mm
OAL: 110 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Dounce Tissue Grinder, 40 ml, 32 mmx 140 mm Mortor, 185 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: 40 ml
Mortor: 32 mmx 140 mm
OAL: 185 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Tapered Tissue Grinder, 3 ml, 11 mmx 86 mm Mortor, 220 mm OAL
This is new design grinder with longer tapered surface on both the mortar and pestle, offering grinding more efficient and less time require. The conical surface allows initial size reduction followed by passage through the cylindrical section for the final homogenization step. It is ideal for homogenization of connective tissue including heart, muscle and lung, as well as skin and plant tissue.
Made from Wheaton 33 low extractable borosilicate glass. Interchangeable components takes the hassle out of matching parts. Unit is autoclavable. When the pestle is "bottomed" within the mortar, the clearance is uniform 0.004" to 0.006” (0.1 to 0.15 mm).
Size: 3 ml
Mortor: 11 mmx 86 mm
OAL: 220 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Mortar for Tapered Tissue Grinder, 1 ml, 11 mm x 49 mm Mortor, 130 mm OAL
Replacement parts for Tapered tissue grinder.
Size: 1 ml
Mortor: 11 mm x 49 mm
OAL: 130 mm
Electron Microscopy Sciences Potter-Elvehjem Micro Tissue Grinder Pestle only, 0.1 ml, 4 mm x 65 mm Mortor, 110 mm OAL
Replacement pestle 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