Re: Bacti cinerators

["Dr. William Henderson" <whenderson@NBPOL.COM.PG>]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your input ........ at the moment that is how were are
operating ..... when the element stops glowing the whole length of the
tube we replace it. Is the efficient, I am not sure. The trouble is that
when you combine the loss of temperature with the substantial increase
in the time it takes for the element to reheat we increase the potential
for contamination and start to loose productivity. I would like a more
objective measurement if I can find one ....... maybe I have to start
recording temperatures and heating times and develop my own set of
standards. It is just that I find the plant tissue list a great forum
and I thought others might have already been down this road before me.

Cheers
Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Plant Tissue Culture [mailto:PLANT-TC@lists.umn.edu]On Behalf Of Alan Winthrop
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 7:32 PM
To: PLANT-TC@lists.umn.edu
Subject: Re:  Bacti cinerators

Hi Bill,

We have always found that when the bacti cinerators are not working
properly, they simply do not glow the whole length of the tube. You will be
quickly alerted by the lack of orange around the opening.
If you are using them regularly you may be able to guess the less efficient,
by the time it takes to heat up after plugging them in or the time it takes
to heat your instruments.

We have always used ours right up to the time they stopped glowing properly
with no increase in contamination.
We simply then replaced the ceramic element.

With regards
Alan L Winthrop

http://www.tissuequickplantlabs.com/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dr. William Henderson" <whenderson@NBPOL.COM.PG>
To: <PLANT-TC@LISTS.UMN.EDU>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 6:03 AM
Subject:  Bacti cinerators

Hi everyone,

We use bacti cinerators for all our laminar flow instrument sterilisation
and find that they suit our needs well. What I would like to know is how to
determine when the bacti cinerator element requires replacement.

...  I have been advised that Bacti cinerators run at approx 816 degrees C
which is pretty hot ............. some of ours were most certainly not
achieving that kind of temperature.  Has anyone addressed this problem
before?

Cheers
Bill