Merkey Marjorie wrote:
> We are aware that some procedures offer quick mordanting/time savings by
> heating Bouin's in the microwave and are seeking more information from labs
> who have been doing this routinely. We are concerned about the picric acid
> explosions hazard. If you heat Bouin's in the microwave, we would like to
> know the safe temperature range

Picric acid explodes if its temperature exceeds
300C. (Check a reference book yourself if you
don't believe it; I checked 3.) This cannot happen
in an aqueous solution such as Bouin's fluid.
It's also the reason for keeping a layer of water
over the surface of the powder in a stock bottle
of "solid" picric acid. The saturated aqueous
solution is 1.23% at 20C.
-- 
-------------------------
John A. Kiernan
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
The University of Western Ontario
London,   Canada   N6A 5C1
   kiernan@uwo.ca
   http://publish.uwo.ca/~jkiernan/