Re: Ferric Oxalate

nadeaul@nbnet.nb.ca
Mon, 9 Jan 1995 20:16:54 +0300

>A> >I just bought some Ferric Oxalate from a major chemical house. The
>A> problem...
>
>LN> The only comment I can offer here, from *many* complaints that I have
>LN> received in the past, is that you may have made a mistake in getting your
>LN> ferric oxalate from a "major chemical house". When I was actively
>LN> printing in Pt I was very happy to find Bostick & Sullivan's ferric
>LN> oxalate.
>
>Not being a chemist, I find this rather perplexing. I like the idea of
>doing business with firms like Bostick & Sullivan in business, but is there
>really a difference between their's and a major chemical house's Ferric
>Oxalate?

Their's would be better compared to a major chemical supply house. I have
had to return all kinds of stuff to major chemical suppliers over the
years. (gol chloride, etc.)

Of all the chemicals they supply ferric oxalate is one of the least
reliable. There is practically no need for it these days for anything. In
the UK, Mike Ware told me that it is simply not available, period. In other
countries, readers chemists who may prefer to remain unnamed, told me that
their local suppliers tried to pass off other stuff as ferric oxalate, to
chemists! Get the B&S stuff and remove the main source of uncertainty about
the process.

Luis and the group, can you provide a little more insight into any
>difference for Ferric Oxalate or any other chemical that is used in
>alternative processes.

There is more in the latest edition of my Pt book.

Remember:

"Months in the lab will save you hours at the library";-)

It will also cost you a lot more...

Luis Nadeau

>
>Thanks,
>Brian (shaw@courier3.aero.org)