[Histonet] Re: Xylene substitute

[Victor Tobias]

In defense of the good Samurai, he was using a comment posted by someone 
else that the product smelled like ether.

Victor

Victor Tobias
Clinical Applications Analyst
University of Washington Medical Center
Dept of Pathology Room BB220
1959 NE Pacific
Seattle, WA 98195
victor <@t> pathology.washington.edu
206-598-2792
206-598-7659 Fax
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Blazek, Linda wrote:
> Dear Bob Richmond, our honorable Samurai Pathologist.  The consensus of opinion around here is that you have been spending too much time smelling formalin!  We can't figure out how you get the smell of ether from Formula 83!  Most of us here are old enough to remember the smell of ether but don't equate it with Formula 83.
>
> Respectfully,
> Linda
>
> Linda Blazek HT (ASCP)
> Manager/Supervisor
> GI Pathology of Dayton
> 7415 Brandt Pike
> Huber Heights, OH 45424
> Phone: (937) 293-4424 ext 7118
> Email: lblazek <@t> digestivespecialists.com
>
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Richmond
> Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:16 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Re: Xylene substitute
>
> Questions about xylene substitutes: This has been discussed a good
> many times on Histonet.
>
> There are two classes of xylene substitutes:
>
> Limonene and turpentine are terpenes. Several brands; AmeriClear was
> mentioned. Limonene is prepared by steam distillation of orange peels.
> It has a strong citrus smell variously described as pleasant,
> overwhelming, disgusting, and allergenic, and cannot be made odorless.
> It is not very toxic, is not easily set afire, and is to a degree
> biodegradable. It cannot be distilled. With America's declining citrus
> industry, this once cheap product has become considerably more
> expensive.
>
> Aliphatic solvents are now in much more widespread use. They are more
> expensive than xylene, but can be recovered by distillation. Most of
> them are odorless, at least to my nose. They are not very toxic. Some
> have much lower flash points than others, so that fire hazard varies
> considerably. They are not easiy biodegradable. Different brands
> differ considerably in chemical and physical properties, and
> distillation routines for one brand cannot be used with another brand.
>
> Richard Allan's Clear-Rite 3 may be the most widely used aliphatic.
> ANATECH's Pro-Par was mentioned in this correspondence, and is very
> meticulously described on their Web site.
>
> I hadn't heard of CBG Biotech's Formula 83 before. Slightly different
> from ordinary aliphatics, it is described as a "naphthenic hydrocarbon
> blend" (cycloalkane). It is described as "smells  like ether", and I
> would be concerned about its very low flash point (45 F, below room
> temperature, as described in the MSDS).
>
> When you mention who makes a commercial product, please tell us who
> makes it, and read the Materials Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) at the
> product's Web site and see what you can find out what's in it.
>
> I have no commercial connection with any product I've mentioned.
>
> Bob Richmond
> Samurai Pathologist
> Knoxville TN
>
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