Preparation Of Colloids

Strengthening ties with the Max Planck Society(2)

In anticipation of the important year, RIKEN and the MPG have been working toward further deepening the cultural and scientific interaction between the two organizations and countries. RIKEN and the MPG have been cooperating in a diverse range of fields including physics, chemistry and biology for more than a quarter century since they first entered into a collaborative agreement in June 1984. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of their cooperation, the two organizations held a joint conference on 21–23 January 2009 at the MPG administrative headquarters in Munich, covering their collaborations in the three fields of physics, materials science and the life sciences. At this conference it was decided that an invaluable global resource for chemical compounds could be created by combining two chemical compound banks led by Hiroyuki Osada and Herbert Waldmann, respectively. On 19 January 2010, RIKEN President Ryoji Noyori and Kohei Tamao, director of the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute (ASI), visited MPG President Peter Gruss in Germany. During this visit, it was decided that the cooperative ties between the two organizations should be strengthened and developed, and to this end a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for research collaboration in the field of systems chemical biology. This MoU led to research involving the exchange of researchers and students, and in February 2010 a RIKEN–Max Planck joint research team was created in preparation for the later establishment of a joint research center. As discussions on the proposed joint research center progressed, it became clear that significant breakthroughs in glycobiology could be achieved through collaboration between the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, headed by Peter Seeberger and known for its automated oligosaccharide synthesis technology, and the RIKEN ASI's Systems Glycobiology Research Group, headed by Naoyuki Taniguchi. It was then decided to create a joint research center that would support and foster the expected synergetic effect of these two groups working together and sharing information. The joint research center will bring together two libraries—the RIKEN ASI’s natural chemical compounds bank (NPDepo), and the biology oriented synthesis library, BIOS, of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology in the Department of Chemical Biology, under the leadership of Herbert Waldmann.

Two Letters Re: The Case For Silver Spoons - SurvivalBlog.com

Hi Jim,
I wholeheartedly agree with using silver spoons daily.

At issue with the article is the fact that many people have misconceptions about colloidal silver including F.J.B.  It should not be consumed internally.  Gargling or swishing around the mouth is fine, as is using it in a nasal sprayer for the sinuses and nasal passages.  Swallowing colloidal silver, however, is not advised.  The problem is that the elemental silver reacts with the hydrochloric acid in the stomach to produce silver chloride which does not have any of the sought after properties the the metallic silver has.  It will however contribute to argyria . Colloidal silver should be used topically to control infection. 

Additionally, it is not made properly by running a small current through water.  It can be made at home, but requires a decidedly more difficult method.  Page 320 of "General Chemistry"  5th Edition by Nebergall, Schmidt & Holttzclaw states that the colloid is prepared by drawing an electric arc with silver electrodes under water.  The vapor condenses to particles of colloidal size.  The "Bredig Arc" is drawn with 5-10 amperes at 30-to-40 volts DC.  

There has been a very large contingent of people espousing the idea that a small current derived from batteries will produce a proper colloid.  This is simply not true.  Commercially prepared colloidal silver has a clear golden color.  If a preparation is water clear and /or milky in color, then it is not colloidal silver.

Lastly, Sterling Silver is alloyed with 7.5% copper, not nickel. [JWR Adds: I've already corrected that post.]

Sincerely, - Ray K.

 

Mr. Rawles:
Just a quick comment on  The Case For Silver Spoons, by F.J.B.:

We purchased our Big Berkey [ceramic water filter] in 1999 and have used it daily since.  My husband began "storing" a few .999 fine silver bars in the bottom.  The bars still sparkle, the water tastes fine, and we have had no major sicknesses like the flu in over 10 years. - Grace H.