Klarinet Archive - Posting 000224.txt from 1999/12

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] almost totally OT
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 04:10:44 -0500

The "ionic strength" (= "electrolyte content"?) of *your* tap water may be
low -- some of us are not so fortunate.....
Roger S.

On Sun, 5 Dec 1999, W. Edinger wrote:

> Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 11:41:59 -0800
> From: "W. Edinger" <wde1@-----.com>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> To: Klarinet list <klarinet@-----.org>
> Subject: [kl] almost totally OT
>
> 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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