I have been trying to create a method to create a homogeneous agar solution.
The new solution consists of distilled boiling water, $\pu{20 g/L}$ agar, $\pu{10 g/L}$ $\ce{NaCl}$ and $\pu{1 g/L}$ $\ce{CuSO4}$. An issue with the agar is that it only dissolves between 90-100C which makes it difficult to dissolve using a hot plate or other methods as it also needs to be homogeneous.
I've made progress speaking to both the microbiology and chemistry departments of my university. The current idea to make the solution homogeneous is to heat it in an autoclave set at 121C. This will also sterilize the solution making the phantom last longer. Unfortunately we have no 3L beakers to do it all in one go. They have plenty of 2L and some 5L beakers, but nothing that is 3L.
A new idea is to heat a round bottomed flask in the autoclave and then transfer the semi-cooled solution to a perspex container that will have a base on it. (flask and container shown in the photo below)
The problem is how do we ensure the solution is still relatively homogeneous and won't be full of air bubbles? Are there any simple ways to solve this?