Table 1.
Summary of the main analytical constraints of the fixation methods under study for synchrotron X-ray microscopy.
| Fixation Methods |
Morphology Preservation |
Artefacts | Elemental Content Preservation |
Repeatability | Equipment Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFA 2% | Low | Yes | No | Low | Si3N4/SiC membrane |
| EtOH 70% | No | Low | No | High | Si3N4/SiC membrane |
| PFA 3.7% | Yes | No | Yes | High | Si3N4/SiC membrane |
| MeOH/C3H6O | No | Yes | No | High | Si3N4/SiC membrane |
| Cryofixation | Yes | No | Yes | Low | Si3N4/SiC membrane Vacuum pump Cryogen gas Liquid nitrogen |