Klarinet Archive - Posting 000146.txt from 1999/12

From: "W. Edinger" <wde1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] almost totally OT
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 14:41:59 -0500

Some comments on cellulose digestion - humans, porcupines, any
animal (including termites, believe it or not), are completely incapable
of digesting cellulose, so that's not what's happening when reeds break
down. Technically, even termites don't have the capability of digesting
it - it's actually the bacteria in their guts that make the enzymes
(cellulases) that can do it (this may seem like a minor technicality to
most people, but of major significance to a microbiologist :-)). But I
do agree that there is most likely some enzymatic activity contributing
to the aging of reeds. I'd bet that the mechanical action of vibration
does more than anything, though, and based to a large extent on the
original density/cell morphology of the cane, which perhaps explains why
some go faster than others. Cleaning them with hydrogen peroxide sure
makes sense to me, but as we all know, they'll still wear out
eventually. Also, as Fernando pointed out, the acids, bases, and
enzymes in saliva are pretty dilute; and the ionic strength of tap water
is so low, and thus the buffering capacity so low, that minor changes in
acid/base content reflect changes in pH that seem more significant than
they really are. Finally, most pH meters will read tap water - yes,
even certifiable pH 7.0 tap water - at around 5.4-5.7 due to a fluke in
the way the electrodes work. If you didn't do a major or minor in
biochemistry though, don't blame yourself. Just use pH papers to get a
more accurate reading for tap water.

Bill E.

Did you know that OT also stands for Occupational Therapy? Just ask my
wife. ;-)

--
****************************
"Music and wine are one."

- Ralph W. Emerson

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