ChefPunks

[Trei, Peter]

> Harmon Seaver[SMTP:hseaver at cybershamanix.com] wrote:
> 
> 
>         I'm not understanding the comments about wetness affecting mail
> in a pressure cooker -- using it as an autoclave, that is. I would
> assume anyone doing this would put the perishable objects in a
> waterproof container, such as a canning jar. You can get them in 1/2
> gallon size. And I'm sure there are any number of steel, aluminum, etc.
> waterproof containers that would work as well.
> 
> Harmon Seaver, MLIS
> 
The whole point of an autoclave is that the superheated steam and
condesing superheated water drops transfer heat to the target faster
than simple hot air at 1 atm. 

Putting the material to be sterilized in a waterproof container defeats
this goal. Putting it in a pressure tight container such as a canning
jar is doubley futile - either the superheated steam and water won't
get to the material to be sterilized, or the container will fail 
catastrophically.

Autoclaving ain't for delicate materials. Irradiation would be a 
better bet. Anthrax spores are (so I've heard) pretty sensitive to 
UV, so ionizing radiation may not be neccesary.

Peter Trei