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Bugs and chemicals
Just a reminder for you (me included) that thought bugs/funghi/molds are only attracted to proteins, natural extracts etc. here is “pure” 4-chloro-resorcinol…
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9 Replies
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Life finds a way to proliferate
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I am far from convinced that this is a biological growth on the substance claimed on the label.
I am not familiar with 4-chlororesorcinol per se but I do know that the parent compound (resorcinol) and the parent of that (phenol) are both volatile at room temperature and, on storage, deposit fine crystals on the walls of the container or on the main body of the product. These are easily identifiable as they often have a different crystalline form and colour.
Have you carried out any I.D. testing on the deposits?
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has that been stored in a humid atmosphere?
when we get samples of this and other oxidative dye precursors, the supplier typically puts a packet of silica gel in the container; in general, these substances keep well, provided the containers are sealed tight, kept cool and exposed to as little air or moisture as possible
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Many microorganisms can be trained to accept different carbon sources as food and this is quite a common method of identifying biocatalysts for using industrially. As Perry said, life finds a way.
In fact, yeast, trained to grow on resorcinol have been found to degrade chlororesorcinol to, according to the authors, an “unknown pink intermediate”. However, this study used dilute solutions.
Chloroaromatics are quite difficult to degrade in the environment. Personally I would love to get my hands on the sample to see if the microbe (assuming that’s what it is” has value for bioremediation.
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@johnb it is definitely mold - I didn’t believe either at first. - and I am also familiar with the resorcinol crystals
@Bill_Toge - yes, just humidity and moisture makes it grow.. -
@Pete you can have it - how much?
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Hi David, that would be excellent! I would say a 100mg in total (including some of the microbe and some of the compound). If you send it in the post that will be great. I will make a glycerol stock and store at -70 degC then until I decide what to do with it - although I will consult colleagues that are more expert than me in such matters before doing so.
I will send you a private message with my address in Spain - Hope you are okay to send it here!
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Hi @Pete - with how much I meant -how much money you would pay for it!
Joking aside - I don’t think I can send a sample full of mould with the post - isn’t this hazardous goods? -
Hi David,
You would think it would be like sending some mouldy bread!
However, in this day and age I think you are right that it should be sent
correctly.I will contact an ex-colleague and get some advice, then get back to
you. If it turns out to be expensive I will be happy to pay the postage unless
it turns out to be ridiculously expense -which could be a possibility.
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