Strange liquid found in test tube at ECC

Elgin police and fire officials are trying to determine what was in a test tube found outside a conference center cafeteria early Wednesday afternoon at Elgin Community College's main campus on Spartan Drive.

Two to three ounces of a clear, yellow, oily, viscous liquid that tested positive for lactic acid was in the 10-inch test tube discovered by a caterer in a hallway outside of a meeting room in the Fox Valley University and Business Center. After a police officer determined the test tube was not the kind used in chemistry and biology laboratories at the college, he brought it to Elgin fire station 4, fire officials said.

Hazardous materials teams from Elgin and South Elgin then tested the liquid with computerized gas chromatography. Besides the lactic acid, there were other chemical properties. The results are being further analyzed by the manufacturer of the testing program.

No one was injured, and no buildings were shut down.

Lactic acid is an organic acid. It can be used as a food preservative, and in the making of yogurt, cheese and other dairy foods.