[meteorite-list] OT -- clear capsules

[Mexicodoug]

Aloha Tracy

I have always balked at gel capsules for nutraceuticals, after getting 
one or two fro some established collectors selling on eBay - because 
they are meant to be swallowed, right?

Suppose for a moment that they are stable, and can maintain their 
structural integrity in humid environments - and will not blobify. That 
may be true.

I am guessing that they are all hygroscopic by design, as the cheap 
ones are all made from partially hydrolyzed animal skin, hair, and 
bones (reminds me of Jell-O, which was reputed to be made from horses' 
hooves when I was in grade-school).

Being hygroscopic, wouldn't the maintain a humid interior? Kind of the 
opposite of storing your meteorites with silica gel, and like storing 
them inside a humid draw on a micro-level. (Here is where I have my 
doubt: maybe they actually act like silica gel, but the existence of 
tiny glass flasks makes that a moot question IMO.

I would suggest some micro-bottles from some chemical supply house like 
VWR or eBay, if more convenient. Glass is tried and true ... If not 
look for another container made of some lesser permeable plastic. Short 
term storage really may not be a big deal, just like a humid day - not 
much happens. But we like to think of our collections as forever ...

Even if you get expensive cellulose derivatives of pharma capsules, 
most depend on their hygroscopic properties whether it is a simple 
dissolution or assisted by gastric juices (which is why animal derived 
gel caps are so successful) - or else they would not deliver their 
contents efficiently before passing through our systems.

Best wishes,
Doug


-----Original Message-----
From: tracy latimer <daistiho at hotmail.com>
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 2:54 pm
Subject: [meteorite-list] OT -- clear capsules



As most of you know, I concentrate on collecting micros. Many of my 
micros are
in the .1g range or smaller; if they aren't labeled, they could easily 
be
mistaken for one of HI's ubiquitous gecko poops. Some collectors have 
sent
micros encased in the small clear capsules that vitamin and herbal 
supplements
come in. I think this is a very good idea especially for the
bigger-than-mg-but-smaller-than-.2g size.
1. Can someone give me the name of a supplier for these things? They 
are
available on ebay, but see #2
2. I'm concerned about using the capsules that are designed to dissolve 
when
swallowed. Are these still ok for meteorite storage use (no worries 
about them
softening or going gelatinous?)

Any info you can supply would be welcome.

Best!
Tracy Latimer

_________________________________________________________________
Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/
______________________________________________
http://www.meteoritecentral.com
Meteorite-list mailing list
Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list