Phosphotungstic acid hydrate may be used as a staining agent for the transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coated gold nanorods.
It may be used in the preparation of:
- Phosphotungstic acid doped ormosil hybrid networks.
- Niobia supported phosphotungstic acid (PTA) catalysts.
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles /phosphotungstic acid (HPW) films.
12-Tungstophosphate hydrate is used in histology as a component for staining of cell specimens. It binds to fibrin, collagen and fibers of connective tissues. It is also used to replace the anions of dyes from these materials. In solution, it acts as a homogeneous catalyst and involved in the hydrolysis of propene to give 2-propanol. It is supported with alumina and silica and act as a heterogeneous catalyst involved in the dehydration of 2-propanol to propene and methanol to hydrocarbons. In analytical chemistry, it is used to precipitate proteins and termed as "universal" precipitant for polar proteins.
Phosphotungstic acid hydrate has been a useful histology stain for cell specimens.
Phosphotungstic acid hydrate is a heteropolyacid.
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
A few drops of conc HNO3 are added to 100g of phosphotungstic acid dissolved in 75mL of water, in a separating funnel, and the solution is extracted with diethyl ether. The lowest of the three layers, which contains a phosphotungstic acid-ether complex, is separated, washed several times with 2M HCl, then with water and again extracted with ether. Evaporation of the ether under vacuum with mild heating on a water bath gives crystals which are dried under vacuum and ground [Matijevic & Kerker, J Am Chem Soc 81 1307 1959].
