title: A method for preparing analytically pure sodium dithionite. Dithionite quality and observed nitrogenase-specific activities.
abstract: Sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) is widely used as a reductant in biochemical studies, but has not been available in its pure form. A convenient, detailed procedure is given for the recrystallization of commercial dithionite from 0.1 M NaOH-methanol under anaerobic conditions. Twice-recrystallized dithionite had a purity of 99 +/- 1% by UV spectroscopy (A315) and elemental analysis. The influence of dithionite quality on the apparent reduction activities of the nitrogenase components (Av1 and Av2) from Azotobacter vinelandii was investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Gutheil
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013431:Sulfates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D013431:Sulfates; D009591:Nitrogenase; C004850:sodium dithionate