Yes, James, but I fail to see the joke. What was meant is that starting with
only DW, or even using some previous CS solution as 'starter' will result in
predominantly silver cations (the positive ions) being present in solution. By
using citric acid or similar, the great bulk of cations are hydronium H3O+,
shortened for brevity to H+. Hence a far lesser proportion of cations arriving
and reducing at the cathode will be silver, which by my reckoning at least
means less plate-out. I'm trying to work a good party joke out of that, but
it's hard! Just had a thought - you were aware that Ag+ is shorthand for
argentous ion (singly charged silver cation)?
regards, Kevin Nolan
----- Original Message -----
From: James Allison
To: silver-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2002 1:32 PM
Subject: Re: CS>'bagged' cathode
"yields nearly all the positive ions in solution as Ag+"
*chuckle* You must of had a long day Kevin ;)
-James Allison
----- Original Message -----
From: Kevin Nolan
To: silver-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 10:02 PM
Subject: CS>'bagged' cathode
Hello all. Another report on trying to eliminate plate-out, inspired by a
recent mailing to and from 'Ole Bob'. Some months ago I posted a speculation
that wrapping a cathode in eg artificial chamois may dramatically reduce
plate-out - because that would greatly reduce the amount of fresh fluid
contacting the cathode surface. Since then Bob posted a comment about success
using cotton bias tape wrapping - what is called 'bagging the electrode'. I
have tried it using fairly thick cotton twill, wrapped twice around a stainless
steel plate (40mm X 200mm section) and secured with small rubber bands. For
everything else the same, current is reduced about 20% - from ~ 8.5mA to ~
6.5mA owing to cotton wrap. The big improvement is a dramatic reduction in
cathode plate-out, which is now just a thin, fairly adherent film that barely
stains the cotton (only at the plate edges). No gunk fall out, no filtering,
perfectly clear and sparkly free CS, with moderate levels of both tyndale and
metallic taste.
NOTE: This is using demineralised water to which citric acid was added,
which dramatically boosts conductivity. It means the majority of charge
carriers reaching the cathode and reducing there will be H+ ions, not Ag+. Not
sure how effective wrapping would be using the traditional LVDC method - ie
relying on residual impurities in DW to start things yields nearly all the
positive ions in solution as Ag+.
regards, Kevin Nolan
