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Date:         Thu, 13 Sep 2001 09:29:41 -0400
Reply-To:     Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Derek Drew <derekdrew@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Molassas To Fix Rust -- New Scientist Article
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

The first list member to achieve rust repair of his Vanagon using Molassas please report. :-)

>Date: Wed, 12 Sep 2001 23:36:48 EDT >From: LisaDrew@aol.com >Subject: got a rust problem? >To: <derekdrew@rcn.com>, <pgloudon@hotmail.com> >X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version) > > From New Scientist magazine: > >Sticky solution > > Question >I have a friend who uses molasses to clean rust off old iron items >collected from the bush. The rusty iron article is placed in a jar of >molasses solution (nine parts water, one part molasses) and left for two >weeks. After this time, the article comes out clean and almost shiny. What >is happening here? > >Answer >Molasses contains chelating agents. These are made of molecules that are >shaped a bit like the claws of a crab--the word chelation comes directly >from the Latin word chele, meaning claw. They can envelop metal atoms on >the surface of an object, trapping them and removing them. Molasses owes >its properties to cyclic hydroxamic acids which are powerful chelators of iron. > >More of these compounds are found if the molasses is derived from sugar >beet rather than cane sugar. The plants from which molasses is made >presumably use these chelating agents to help them extract minerals from >the soil. Interestingly, there are aerobic microorganisms that use similar >cyclic hydroxamic acids to scavenge iron. So plants and microbes appear to >use the same chelation strategy to obtain their daily ration of iron. > >The same process is at work when you clean old coins with Vegemite or >cola. The power of chelating agents also explains why the insides of >tomato tins need to be lacquered. The citric acid in the tomatoes would >dissolve the metal of the container if the lacquer were not present. >Household cleaning agents, especially detergents and shampoos, also rely >on chelation. These soften water to make it more effective during the >cleaning process. > >Chelation has its uses in medicine, too. EDTA or ethylenediamine >tetraacetic acid is used as a chelating agent to control levels of calcium >in the body and can reduce the effects of mercury or lead poisoning. > > >Ben Selinger, Department of Chemistry, Australian National University. Ben >Selinger is the author of Chemistry in the Marketplace and Why the >Watermelon will not Ripen in your Armpit (Allen & Unwin) > > >

_______________________________________________ Derek Drew CEO & Co-Founder http://www.ConsumerSearch.com/ New York, NY =========================== "Best Expert Review Site" for product reviews on the Internet Jan. 2001, PC World Magazine ========================== derekdrew@rcn.com 212-580-6486

Alternate numbers for the industrious phone caller that wants to try every avenue: 212-580-6486 (best), 917-848-6425 (cell); 202-966-7907 (Work), 212-580-4459 (Home), 202-966-0938 (Home), 978-359-8533 (fax [efax]), 212-269-3188 (New York Seaport office).


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