I want to preserve some fungi by the silica gel method (with skim milk). However i can't find a reference to the ideal silica to be used. In my lab we have an orange silica (when dried) but with an irregular shape and also a blue one (when dried) with a sphere shape. What silica do you use?
Inês Diniz There is no difference in blue or orange silica gel. The main constituent is silica or silicone dioxide SiO2. The colour is due to the indicator added, which is used to indicate the saturation level of silica gel.
However, the difference in colour is that orange coloured silica gel is preferred as it is safer/environmentally and not has toxic compounds like cobalt in blue silica gel. As you would not be using that fungi in any consumption or cosmetic usage, any of the silica gel is fine.
Inês Diniz There is no difference in blue or orange silica gel. The main constituent is silica or silicone dioxide SiO2. The colour is due to the indicator added, which is used to indicate the saturation level of silica gel.
However, the difference in colour is that orange coloured silica gel is preferred as it is safer/environmentally and not has toxic compounds like cobalt in blue silica gel. As you would not be using that fungi in any consumption or cosmetic usage, any of the silica gel is fine.
the silica you have will not work. here is a detail protocol
http://fgblab.org/storage-of-fungi-on-silica-gel/
Serenella A Sukno Thank your for the reply. Why my silica will not work?
your silica is and indicator of change humidity and has chemicals added that are incompatible with spores preservation. you can read all that in the products description
Serenella A Sukno thank you again. I thought about that, but i have found some protocols that use silica with indicator. That's why i was confused. Do you preserve your fungi by this method?
Inês Diniz
Are you going to use those fungal spores as food/additives/cosmetics/pharmaceuticals ? I don't think orange silica gel is toxic, if you are just going to use it as a desiccant.
Serenella A Sukno
In the protocol you provided, there is no mention about any toxic effect of silica, gel colour and toxicity. Of course, silica gel in itself can be toxic in many ways and its strong desiccant and oxidising agent, but I don't see any toxicity directly related to the colour especially orange (as discussed earlier). Or at least the company don't say its toxic.
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