Nitric acid

[LaurenceOs]

What strength is best?

 

[leavemealone]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish.For most applications,35%-45% is fine.

 

[Buzz]

I buy mine as 70% but dilute it with water 50/50.

For some reason, it seems to work faster when diluted.

Regards
Buzz

 

[leavemealone]

Thats because you are multiplying your absorption area.Nitric is strong enough even in lower percentages to eat almost anything as most of you know,however the amount of material it can digest is limited to the yolume of liquid you have.When you double that volume the material will easily dissolve.Of course there is a limiting point...for instance you couldn't take one gallon of 70% and add 5 gallons of water and expect the same speed.Of course you will have to keep your percentage of nitric high enough to work efficiently while keeping your absorption volume high enough to accomodate the material being processed.
Johnny

 

[LaurenceOs]

Im really struggling to find nitric acid, even on the internet...

 

[Oz]

Try chemical suppliers that cater to water treatment facilities.

 

[Buzz]

In the UK, most cleaning supply companies carry Nitric and HCl.
You need to find a local company though as most couriers won't deliver it.

Buzz

 

[Harold_V]

Try chemical suppliers that cater to water treatment facilities.

Unless I'm mistaken, it is also used by dairies, to cleanse their equipment, which is virtually 100% stainless. That is the case for one of the dairies that is within four miles of our home.

You might also inquire of any firm that does photo plate etching. You may find that nitric is used to etch plates, so they are a secondary source.

The best possible scenario is to get hooked up with a chemical distributor, one that repackages, and to own your own stainless container. I addressed the issue by that manner. Believe it or not, I was fortunate to buy a stainless 55 gallon drum for the huge sum of $5. One of my customers worked at the University of Utah and managed to procure them free from the surplus department. I thought it might be worth $5 to me! 8)

Harold

 

[leavemealone]

If you are able to find it at a dairy supplier,also ask them if they use SMB.A lot of dairy facilities do.
Johnny

 

[LaurenceOs]

Ok cheers chaps, sorry for the endless tedious Q's

 

[Harold_V]

No problem, Laurence. We aim to please!

Harold

 

[LaurenceOs]

I found this little number which seems to have everything, but dont you think its a little expensive?
http://reagent.co.uk/
Check out the SMB too, its like $45-50 for 500g

 

[lazersteve]

I pay about $30 bucks for 10 pounds of SMB, if you look you can likely find it cheaper than this even. The price you posted is way too high in my opinion.

Steve

 

[qst42know]

A home brewing supply house will have SMB. And it should be considerably less.

 

[LaurenceOs]

but go on the site chaps, the nitric is well expensive too, its the only decent place i've found to sell it and it costs a bomb.

 

[qst42know]

Reagent grade chemicals are not necessary for most any refining you may want to do. Reagent grade would be high purity lab chemicals for fat wallet research folks. :lol:

Keep shopping.

 

[LaurenceOs]

well im really getting no where, thats the only site i've found, i've called loads of cleaning and janitorial supplies companies and have had no luck, can anyone post me a link? please? cos its been weeks and that website's all i've come up with.

 

[lazersteve]

chemistrystore.com

Steve

 

[LaurenceOs]

Thanks steve,

Cant find it on the site though :S is there another name for it or something? i must be missing something here cos i can find it nowhere

 

[lazersteve]

http://www.chemistrystore.com/cart.cgi?group=88696&child=88749