Can alcohol be reused as sterilizing agent?

[lavoisier]

Does anyone know if rubbing alcohol (which I use to sterilize containers for my live phyto) be reused as sterilizing agent?

 

[lapin]

Yes, However because of sediment contamination you might get particle build up on your containers.

 

[Swingline77]

It depends what you want to use it on. There is a difference between sterilization and disinfection, with alcohol being considered a disinfectant. Encapsulated bacteria can survive alcohol for short periods, but this likely isn't a problem with aquariums. Simply getting things bone dry kills many marine pathogens. I say go for it, and let things dry completely after use.

More info:

https://www.aaalac.org/publications/Connection/Using_Alcohol_Disinfectant.pdf

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, more explanation of what you want to accomplish would be helpful.

 

[lavoisier]

I'm sterilizing the plastic containers used in growing out my phytoplankton culture. Rubbing alcohol is not all that expensive but I hate to pour down the drain something that might have more use in it.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

If you are swishing the containers, dumping the alcohol, and then letting dry, it is fine. I do this, but use a coffee filter in a funnel to strain the alcohol when poured back into the bottle. This keeps sediment build up to a minimum in the bottle.

 

[lavoisier]

Yes, I am swishing. Great idea with the filter, thank you.