Re: alcohol in autoclave?

["Dr. Joseph Arditti" <jarditti@UCI.EDU>]

At 09:18 AM 14-10-05, you wrote:
> Hi Elena,
>
> It's not good practice though for students to get used to this.  You could
> put up a sign beside the autoclave that says "Do not autoclave
> ethanol."   And you could also warn your students at least 3 times during
> a class that if any group does this, you're going to dock 5 marks per
> student in the group.  That will get their attention.

Docking always works. I seldom had the heart to do it.

Joseph Arditti

> Lizette
>
>
> "Dr. Elena Yasnetskaya" <housewife@mail.ru> wrote:
> From: Dr. Elena Yasnetskaya <housewife@mail.ru>
> Subject: Re[2]:  alcohol in autoclave?
> Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2005 10:51:22 +0400
>
> Dear Lizette,
> Thank you for your reply; I am worried about ethanol behaviour in
> autoclave because my students use to place it for sterilization, together
> with all used tools and jars, after transfers. We sterilize instruments in
> 70% ethanol, then in flame. Then everything have to be sterilized in
> autoclave, except (I told them few times!) the glass with ethanol. But
> they were forgetting to throw ethanol in to the sink. When other
> colleagues see this ethanol nearly in autoclave, they call my students a
> 'bomb makers".
> Any how, now I am sure that there is no risk of explosion.
> Thanks again,
> Elena
>
> With the highest regards and appreciation
> Dr. Elena Yasnetskaya
> Department of Plant Health
> Plant Biotechnology Centre
> Annibale Preca Street
> Lija BZN 04, MALTA
>
> Tel/Fax: + 356 21 374610

Dr. Joseph Arditti, Professor Emeritus
University of California, Irvine, CA 92604
E-mail: jarditti@uci.edu