From: Linas Kudzma (lkudzma@earthlink.net)
Date: 02/05/02-09:32:29 PM Z
Jeffrey,
I missed your below answer to "why make your own" before I posted my
question. I see your point. However, there are other uses for ferric
oxalate and it will surely remain a specialty chemical for the foreseeable
future. I'd bet Artcraft buys it from someone in bulk, rather than making
it. Ferric oxalate is used in some biochemical tests to measure amounts of
UV (much like we use it). It was even investigated as an additive to dental
adhesives, and maybe is still used this way? I'm not sure.
I'm not criticizing or discouraging anyone. I'm a chemist and enjoy lab
work. However, I do think that making ferric oxalate in a home lab may be
more trouble than it's worth. Also, to the uninitiated, watch that hydrogen
peroxide. Drugstore 3% is harmless, but 30% or higher is very nasty stuff.
Concentrated hydrogen peroxide is a very strong oxidizer, must be stored
refrigerated in a vented bottle (builds pressure), reactions can run away
violently, and it can start fires if in contact with flammables. I'd be
hesitant to work with it outside of a laboratory. Wear eye protection (!)
and be careful.
Linas
> [Original Message]
> From: Jeffrey D. Mathias <jeffrey.d.mathias@worldnet.att.net>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
> Date: 2/5/2002 2:36:50 PM
> Subject: Re: Ferric Oxalate
>
> jeffbuck@swcp.com wrote:
> > .... What do I stand to gain, aside from economy, by making up my
> > own FO according to the elaborate procedures outlined by Eric?
>
> Answered partly as Eric has stated:
> Eric Neilsen wrote:
> > ... Perhaps, but if you make it carefully and repeat how you
> > make it, the variations from batch to batch are not a problem.
>
> Consistency is key. Making one's own can provide better assurance of
> consistency. Also what happens if suppliers like Bostic & Sullivan or
> Artcraft no longer make FO? I know of no other use for Ferric Oxalate
> and no commercial reason to make it. So knowing how to make it from the
> raw materials that are generally commercially available assures that it
> can be made. Also if one wishes to control certain additives and know
> what is actually in their FO, it is a good idea to be able to make it.
>
> Some liquid FO I have tested are good, others are not. I prefer the
> powder FO for storage reasons. And, I would rather make one larger
> batch of powder FO than several smaller batches of liquid FO. But, with
> a good supplier of powder FO, ordering can save time and even money. If
> ordering it is a good idea to avoid shipping conditions that subject the
> FO to excessive heat.
>
> --
> Jeffrey D. Mathias
> http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/
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