In a pinch, can 70% methanol replace 70% ethanol for sanitizing surfaces prior to cell culture?
Hello, Actually 70% methanol has less bacteriostatic activity than 70% ethanol also methanol has high toxicity, the maximum allowed concentration in workplace air is not above 5mg/m^3 so if you spray methanol in surfaces you will receive concentration more than allowed and it will be highly toxic for workers. So newer use methanol instead of ethanol no benefit from it. If you looking for more active compound against microorganisms you can try isopropanol 70% solution with small limitations do not spray large surfaces in room if you do not have good ventilation system.
Hi David,
The short answer for your question is "No".
There are a number of reasons. Anyway, I think the most important ones are the weaker antimicrobial activity of Methanol in comparison with Ethanol; and the poisonous nature of Methanol which makes it undesirable to work with on a daily basis.
Regards,
Radhwan
Hello, Actually 70% methanol has less bacteriostatic activity than 70% ethanol also methanol has high toxicity, the maximum allowed concentration in workplace air is not above 5mg/m^3 so if you spray methanol in surfaces you will receive concentration more than allowed and it will be highly toxic for workers. So newer use methanol instead of ethanol no benefit from it. If you looking for more active compound against microorganisms you can try isopropanol 70% solution with small limitations do not spray large surfaces in room if you do not have good ventilation system.
Others have already pointed out the toxicity of MeOH, so this is not what you want to be doing. You can however get industrial methylated spirit (IMS, ethanol with some foul-smelling additives so nobody can drink it) in the shelf for cleaning materials of your local supermarket. Perfectly fine for disinfecting benches, obviously not for DNA precipitation ;-)
Methanol usage is not recommended, if your goal is just for surface sanitizing, you can try 10% clorox. I do plant tissue culture and i have been using 10% clorox without any problem.
Yes we can use but in specific application with special concentrations (such as Gram staining)
Methanol (methyl alcohol, CH3OH) has poor antimicrobial activity.
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH) exerts maximum activity as ca. 60–90% (v/v) ethanol/water mixtures.
Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol, (CH3)2CHOH) is less volatile and more effective than ethanol, and is used e.g. as a skin antiseptic.
Phenylethanol (phenylethyl alcohol, C6H5(CH2)2OH) is more active against Gram-negative than Gram-positive bacteria, and has been used e.g. as a selective agent in bacteriological media.
Phenoxyethanol (phenoxetol, C6H5O(CH2)2OH) and benzyl alcohol (phenylmethanol, C6H5CH2OH) are used e.g. as preservatives in pharmaceutical preparations; the activity of benzyl alcohol is improved by halogenation:
2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol is used e.g. as a skin antiseptic. Ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and trimethylene glycol (dihydric alcohols) have been used, in aerosol form, for the disinfection of air; a relative humidity of ca. 60% is required.
Bronopol (2-bromo- 2-nitropropan-1,3-diol) is an antibacterial and antifungal compound used e.g. as a preservative in pharmaceutical preparations.
The trihydric alcohol glycerol is bacteriostatic at concentrations above 50%; it has been used e.g. as a preservative in vaccines
Hi
You already got several answers....Methanol is harmful for skin and inhalation...I strongly support the opinion of Radhwan Al-Zidan and Karen A. Darbinyan
Isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol, (CH3)2CHOH) is less volatile and more effective than ethanol can be used.
Dear David,
Methanol is not advisable to be used as a surface sanitizer due to its low antimicrobial activity and toxicity in certain concentrations. Literature reports show that methanol can cause blindness in humans (Article The toxicity of methanol
)Good luck and hope this helps,
Arizaldo
It is comparatively not preferable due to its lower anti bacterial effects and higher toxic effects to workers
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