Eclectic - 27-6-2006 at 09:21
I've got some weed killer which apparently 20% carboxymethylcelulose judging from the slimy, viscous mess produced when I dissolved it in water. Does
anyone know a way to denature, coagulate, or otherwise get rid of the viscous properties of this stuff? I'd like to recover the sodium metaborate and
sodium chlorate that make up the rest of the weed killer, so any fixes using acids are out.
vulture - 27-6-2006 at 12:25
Don't copper ions "dissolve" cellulose compounds?
chemoleo - 27-6-2006 at 12:43
Try biological washing powders...which should contain cellulase, the enzyme. Maybe you can digest it such that the viscosity becomes managable. Be
sure to run at at 40 deg C or wahtever, whatever the washing powder specifies.
Else...centrifugation may be another method, for compacting the goo.
[Edited on 27-6-2006 by chemoleo]
Eclectic - 27-6-2006 at 16:49
I'm getting some crystallization from what I strained through a sieve. Maybe just patience is the answer. I'll dilute the mess a little more and just
let is slowly evaporate, then sieve out the large crystals.
Exploding pants, anyone?
unionised - 28-6-2006 at 11:46
"Try biological washing powders...which should contain cellulase, the enzyme." I doubt that. Has anyone seen a washing powder labeled "Warning: may
dissolve cotton"?
Eclectic - 28-6-2006 at 13:18
Nevermind, I think the viscosity was from microcrystals. The 20% inert material may just be salt or sodium carbonate. 5 lbs of the stuff seems to
dissolve fairly well in 2 gallons of water. I initially tried 3 quarts. I'll just slowly evaporate for fractional crystalization.