Re: preserver for gum

Speaking of preservatives, I was making Thai Red Curried Chicken tonight and
noticed that in my can of Thai Coconut milk the preservative used was
potassium metabisulfite! I can't believe I am eating my alternative process
photo chemicals. So perhaps pot metabi is a preservative for gum as well,
go figure.
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kate Mahoney" <kateb@paradise.net.nz>
To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: preserver for gum

> Yes, of course you're right - blame the wallpapering or my advanced
age....I
> probably only use 1 ml.....:(
> Kate
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Judy Seigel" <jseigel@panix.com>
> To: <alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 7:44 PM
> Subject: Re: preserver for gum
>
>
> >
> >
> > On Sat, 28 Feb 2004, Kate Mahoney wrote:
> >
> > > The traditional preservative is mercuric chloride (scares me), but I
use
> > > a little formaldehyde, maybe 10ml in my 500ml bottle of gum. This has
> > > proved successful so far - my solution is kept in a dark cupboard, but
> > > not refrigerated.
> >
> > That may be stronger than necessary, which (I wonder if) could actually
> > harden the gum ? Anyway, I preserved a 2-oz bottle of gum arabic with 2
> > drops of formaldehyde (40%) and it lasted for years.. So, if my
> > arithmetic is working, 500 mls = about 17 oz, which would be 8-1/2 two
oz
> > bottles, so about 20 drops, or one ml should do it...
> >
> > However there are preservatives you can get at the drugstore more
> > practical than bomb-grade peroxide (which would still lose strength over
> > time, as peroxide donates it's extra 0 to charity... )
> >
> > I think you can get salicylic acid at the drug store? also thymol
> > available through Kremer (which is also in Europe), smells very
antiseptic
> > & medicinal, tho that's the solid in the bottle in the closet. don't
know
> > if the liquid smells the same. Then carbolic acid, which I've never
used
> > but probably around here & there... And some kind of lavender ? I have
> > some somewhere...
> >
> > Judy
> >
> >
>
>
>
Received on Sat Feb 28 22:54:24 2004