Robert Berger wrote:
> Hi Deborah, The laser beam shows that the silver ions are starting to > clump together. This is called agglomeration, which is something you > don't want as it just uses up silver and adds nothing to the PPM > concentration. > > Actually you do want some as a preventative against the possibility of > argyria. The colloidal component is what makes EIS unable to cause > this condition. Of course particles also add to the ppm concentration > of silver, silver is silver whether in particle form or as a salt or > compound. I believe you mean it adds nothing to the ionic or silver > oxide/hydroxide aka ionic portion of the ppm. Also since the > aggregation occurs whenever the ppm exceeds about 26 ppm of ionic > silver, if you do not stir, then that can be reached near the anode > although the rest of the batch may only be a couple of ppm. Stopping > as soon as there is any particles would produce an EIS of a couple of > ppm, although continued brewing would increase that to a maximum of > about 25 or 30 ppm, the solubility limit of the silver > oxide/hydroxide. > > If all you want is the ionic portion without the colloidal portion, > then one could simply purchase some silver oxide, and mix it with > distilled water. That would be a heck of a lot easier, and you could > make huge amounts of ionic silver oxide/hydroxide in a matter of > minutes. But of course without any colloidal component it could also > cause argyria. Before you tell me that silver oxide cannot cause > argyria again here is a link to show that it can: > > > ttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=469606&dopt=Abstract > > Argyria: clinical implications of exposure to silver nitrate and > silver oxide. > So if you brew in subdued light then you will see the red beam > earlier so that you can stop the process sooner. Never wash anything > with soap or detergents as any residue will cause the EIS (aka CS) to > turn yellow, which is an indication that agglomeration has set-in. > > Surfactants work by neutralizing charge, and when change is > neutralized silver ions or particles with a charge no longer repel > each other resulting in aggregation. Soap, even trace amounts can > really mess up the brew. > > Marshall > > > > I hope this helps. "Ole Bob" >
