Recently I had occasion to produce numerous batches
of CS in a short period of time. Since I had several going at
once I had to pay a bit more attention to the process then normal.
What I noticed and would like to share with the list follows.
My procedure is pretty much what I term 'list standard'.
I start with 28 oz of distilled water (I use mason jars that I just
happened to have sitting around). This is heated using a coffee
cup warmer to approx 120 F. or so. The electrodes are two 5"
lengths of .999 16 ga wire. Since I can't get Hanna Instruments to
respond to my inquiries I usually process the CS until it turns a
gentle amber color...about an hour after the first indications of CS
production appear. I guess that this is probably in the range of
10-15 ppm based on list discussions.
I am an electronics tech by trade and am curious about the
goings on in my little circuit. So I have two digital multi-meters
connected to analyze the process. One is in series with the voltage
source to measure current and the other is connected across the
electrodes to measure voltage. I have run this set up two ways;
with three 9-volt batteries in series to give 27 VDC and with an old
linear power supply I had on my work bench that supplies a fixed
36 VDC. The process didn't vary considerably when I used the
higher voltage so that is what I usually do. Seems my wife always
has a need for 9 volt batteries...
At the beginning of the process the readings were on
average 36 VDC at a current of .15 - .40 ma depending on the
quality of the distilled water. Over the space of 20 to 30 minutes
the voltage would drop a volt or so and the current would slowly
increase. When the current reached approx. 3.0 ma the wispy
discharge would become apparent. From this point on the current
would increase at a quicker rate due of course to the increased
conductivity of the CS solution. When the current read 8.0 - 10.0 ma
I noticed something different occur. In addition to the CS 'floating'
around in the vicinity of the electrodes there was also a rather thick
'stream' of CS that was sinking to the bottom of the container.
This was in spite of the convection currents caused by the heating
device. The 'stream' was eventually dispersed by the convection
as it sank lower but this made me curious.
I then ran a batch using the same setup as above with
preheated water but no active heating device. This was to hopefully
minimize the convection currents. I also let the process continue
for about 2 hours. What I noticed was that the 'stream' of CS that
sank seemed to pool in the bottom of the jar. There was a distinctly
darker appearance to this and it was about 1/4" or so thick. After
I terminated the process I let it set overnight in a dark cabinet and
observed it the next day and noticed no change. I then gave it a stir
and mixed everything up. I let it sit for an additional three days and
didn't notice any settling with the exception of some of the sludge
that had dropped off of the electrode during the proccessing. It
looked like a regular (darker than usual due to the extra time
cooking) jar of CS.
This got me to thinking... I know that CS is produced at all
times during the process. That is why the conductivity of the
water slowly changes. I also had observed that at certain current
levels different effects were seen.
Next I modified my little circuit by adding some variable resistance.
I then started another batch using essentially the same setup as
before only this time the voltage was lowered to 9 VDC. No
particular reason why I chose that value but it seemed appropriate
since the standard is three 9-volt batteries...
The initial current read .14 ma. (I think that this may be due
to the failure of my particular meter to accurately indicate very low
current values). and very slowly began to climb. I won't try to make
a table of readings or anything but suffice to say that nothing really
note worthy was happening for several hours with the exception
of the currently slowly increasing and the negative electrode
darkening.
After five hours I observed a very faint tint to the water and
a distinct Tyndal (sp) effect. The current had reached 2.45 ma
and the negative electrode was also becoming fouled. I stopped
the process and cleaned both electrodes. When I began again,
the current had decreased to 2.16 ma. From this point on I cleaned
the electrodes approximately every 45 minutes. I was trying to
minimize the amount of "foreign" matter in the solution. I also began
to adjust the voltage after every cleaning to keep the current in the
vicinity of 2.0 - 2.5ma. I continued in this manner until 8 hours had
passed and the CS was a very nice clear golden color. The voltage
was 5.46 VDC.
At no time during the entire eight hour process did I let the
current rise above 2.79 ma. and also at no time did I ever notice
any sort of 'discharge' from the electrode.
Now! What does this all mean? I have come up with two
possibilities and you may be able to come up with more. As I
see it either:
1. the particle size is so small that the process wasn't visible at
the lower (2 - 3 ma) current.
or
2. the particle size isn't really smaller, but the same size particles
are being produced at such a slow rate that the effect wasn't visible.
I tend to think that (1.) is the case. This is due to the apparent
(to me, anyway) effect of the particles seeming to float around the
area of the electrodes at lower currents and sink to the bottom
of the container when the current rose above 10 ma or so.
Hopefully someone else will give it a try and see if the
effects can be reproduced or if it is the remnants of El Nino! I
won't be in any real position to have my CS tested until I return
to the US around October but will gladly help someone else defray
the cost.
Regards,
George Martin
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