Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Can I swap reagents?

Housane - 26-6-2019 at 05:26

Hi,

This NileRed procedure extracts indigo from jeans using sodium hydrosulfite, would it be possible using another sodium compound instead (e.g. sodium meatbisulphate)?

video is source for procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67kyi5hLnA4&t=217s

Housane

Spock - 26-6-2019 at 06:52

Maybe, but I'd doubt it. The cation is not too relevant in this case. You need something that will act as a reducing agent for the indigo to reduce it to soluble leucoindigo.

I saw some reports that sulfur dioxide was what was actually responsible for the reducing action so metabisulfite might potentially work as it does release sulfur dioxide on contact with water. Though given the availability of metabisulfite, if it did work I'd expect to have seen something about it when I looked.

EDIT:
Sodium Hydrosulfite seems to be fairly available OTC in the US at least. OUT White Brite looks to be 15-40% hydrosulfite and is about $11 for almost 850 grams.


[Edited on 26-6-2019 by Spock]

Housane - 26-6-2019 at 07:24

Ok thanks for the White Brite idea it is OTC in the UK as well unlike Rust OUT which I could not fined anywhere. I will get that.

Housane