Raw Chemicals

[Jimbo]

I have been looking around the internet for some raw chemicals. Sodium Carbonate, Calcium Cloride and Strontium Chloride. Found this site that has 10lb tubs for about $10 each but they don't have Strontium. Any other places to buy besides this one.

http://usachemical.com/usachemicals/

Thanks

[SAT]

Here's one: The Al-Chymist. I've never ordered from them, so don't take this as a recommendation. However, at least they show the grade of the chemicals.

The problem with a lot of the mail order chemical companies is they don't show grades. You should assume it's an industrial grade, with a fairly high level of potentially toxic impurities, unless otherwise indicated. For chemicals like Na2CO3 and CaCl, presumably you're going to use a lot, so you want it to be very pure. I'd stick with reagent grade for those if you can afford it.

[Spanky]

I wouldn't suggest using reagent grade or lab grade chemicals. Although they may be *pure*, you don't know what the trace elements are. Non USP/FCC grade stuff is frequently purified with some truly nasty stuff. The grades you want to look for are USP (suitable for use as pharmaceuticals) and FCC (suitable to use as foods). Some reagent grade CaCl in our lab had heavy metals measuring in the high parts per million - the FDA limit is somewhere in the low parts per billion.

Jerel

[Jimbo]

Anyone know of a premaid buffer that only contains sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. Seachem and Kent both have all kinds of additional stuff in them. ESV has just carbonate/bicarbonate, but don't want to pay for the water Found this site for regent grade stuff.

http://www.chemscientific.com

[Reefer Addict]

I think I saw something over at RC where you could mix Arm and Hammer Baking Soda and Washing soda to get a pure carbonate/bicarbonate mix...
They also had a procedure where you could 'bake' sodium bicarbonate for 30 minutes at 450 to turn it into sodium carbonate if you couldn't find the washing soda.
A lot of people swore by this method, but not having tried it myself, I just thought I'd mention it.
Of course, it sounds like you're looking for a little more than that, but I thought I'd suggest it as an option.

[Jimbo]

That article would be interesting to see, RC is down right now. Problem with washing soda is its purity. Many of the companies selling calcium chloride for reef use do not say that there products are fcc or usd quality. This site has usd/fcc quality chemicals, but they are a little epensive around $20 per 500grams.

http://www.spectrumchemical.com/Retail/

[Spanky]

but they are a little epensive around $20 per 500grams.

That should give you an idea of the quality of the hobby grade materials.

[Jimbo]

I just looked on Seachems and ESV's website. They don't state that they use FCC or USP grade chemicals. Seems if they did they would brag about it.

But maybe they do use food or pharmaceutical grade chemicals, just don't think anyone is interested. I'll send them a email and find out

[Rick O]

Kent Marine has a technical dept. You can call and speak with a chemist.

[Jimbo]

Seachem replyed to my message and they said they use only food grade chemicals in there products.

[Jimbo]

Hi All
Kent Marine replyed to my email here's a quote

"Thank you for your interest in our products. We use the best quality grade chemicals ranging from USP (US Pharmacopoeia), to reagent grade. I hope this helps and if you need more information, please let me know.
Thanks,
John
Tech Dept."

[Jimbo]

ESV sent me a reply finally
Here's the quote

Hello,

We use Reagent Grade, USP, Food Chemical Codex, and Water Chemical Codex chemicals. Our liquid additives also go through a proprietary purification process before bottling.

Thanks for your interest...........Bob Stark (ESV)


So there you have it the 3 major ones at least

[RWD]

Here's a buffer recipe:
http://www.hawkfish.org/infoctr/homebuffer.htm