au-artifax
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2013
- Messages
- 82
Well, I had some time to kill, so tonight I attempted to pursue one potential source containing three chemicals we as refiners might use at some point. Please don't think I am nuts from the get-go, it actually worked out.
Tonight it is all about Crystal Drain Opener.
First, lets explore the ingredients and their purpose.
We have of course the NaOH, and it's purpose in crystal drain cleaner is to eat away at fats and sludges, and also it works with two other ingredients serving other functions.
Next we have usually either aluminum or calcium chips. Their purpose is to create heat, but also (which is why aluminum is used normally), to create hydrogen. The hydrogen acts as a natural churning divice and to react with a third ingredient to create ammonia.
So the third ingredient is NaNO3. It creates ammonia, along with the hydrogen produced, and each little nitrate during it's nano secong transition acts like an acid before giving up it's nitrogen atom. Also it absorbs the hydrogen which could pose an explosive hazard.
A fourth ingredient sodium carbonate or bicarbonate keeps everything from sticking together, considering NaNO3 likes to atract moisture.
So most of the chemicals work in dual capacities with the others.
Although seemingly impossible to separate the materials, I came up with a way, or ways.
First is the bulk of the separation. Fortunately most sodium nitrate comes in nicely rounded prills as and ingredient and the other ingredients are not. Using a large length of corregated cardboard it was easy to separate the materials as I watched all the prills kindly roll on down the slightly slanted course. The other materials where not round so for the most part just sat there. The only exception was the aluminum shot which 50% stayed and the other half rolled iut with the NaNO3.
So next, I had to separate the aluminum from the two sorted batches. For the NaNO3 it was as easy as dissolving it all in water and saving the aluminum pellets. You cannot keep the aluminum in the NaNO3 during any process that I know of.
For the lye though it was a little more involved. I had to dissolve the NaOH in methanol or ethanol, save the aluminum pellets, then eveporate off the alcohol.
But, after all is said and done, from a 2 lb container of crystal drain opener I ended up with a three quarters of a pound NaNO3, about three ounces of aluminum pellets, and just under a pound and a half of lye.
Thanks for listening. This was a fun project, but I would of course recommend the standard eye protection, gloves, and a filter mask. There will be some non-visible dust floating around as well as small particles of caustic material transfering to you and your surroundings.
G'night all.
Tonight it is all about Crystal Drain Opener.
First, lets explore the ingredients and their purpose.
We have of course the NaOH, and it's purpose in crystal drain cleaner is to eat away at fats and sludges, and also it works with two other ingredients serving other functions.
Next we have usually either aluminum or calcium chips. Their purpose is to create heat, but also (which is why aluminum is used normally), to create hydrogen. The hydrogen acts as a natural churning divice and to react with a third ingredient to create ammonia.
So the third ingredient is NaNO3. It creates ammonia, along with the hydrogen produced, and each little nitrate during it's nano secong transition acts like an acid before giving up it's nitrogen atom. Also it absorbs the hydrogen which could pose an explosive hazard.
A fourth ingredient sodium carbonate or bicarbonate keeps everything from sticking together, considering NaNO3 likes to atract moisture.
So most of the chemicals work in dual capacities with the others.
Although seemingly impossible to separate the materials, I came up with a way, or ways.
First is the bulk of the separation. Fortunately most sodium nitrate comes in nicely rounded prills as and ingredient and the other ingredients are not. Using a large length of corregated cardboard it was easy to separate the materials as I watched all the prills kindly roll on down the slightly slanted course. The other materials where not round so for the most part just sat there. The only exception was the aluminum shot which 50% stayed and the other half rolled iut with the NaNO3.
So next, I had to separate the aluminum from the two sorted batches. For the NaNO3 it was as easy as dissolving it all in water and saving the aluminum pellets. You cannot keep the aluminum in the NaNO3 during any process that I know of.
For the lye though it was a little more involved. I had to dissolve the NaOH in methanol or ethanol, save the aluminum pellets, then eveporate off the alcohol.
But, after all is said and done, from a 2 lb container of crystal drain opener I ended up with a three quarters of a pound NaNO3, about three ounces of aluminum pellets, and just under a pound and a half of lye.
Thanks for listening. This was a fun project, but I would of course recommend the standard eye protection, gloves, and a filter mask. There will be some non-visible dust floating around as well as small particles of caustic material transfering to you and your surroundings.
G'night all.
