Too much activated alumina

Topic created by Elvis
on Mon, 6 Dec 2021 at 15:02

Elvis said on Mon, 6 Dec 2021 at 15:02...

I won't name the vendor (USA). But I just purchased a bottle of poppers and it is half way full of those moisture absorbing balls that they use. A 15ml bottle. And no lie. It was atleast half way full of those balls. Is it really necessary for a maker to use that much ? Seems abit excessive to me.

Nitritespecialist said on Mon, 6 Dec 2021 at 18:33...

The poppers should be reasonably dry when bottled, so I don't think a lot of AA is required. On the other hand, a lot of acid neutralizer may be required. I just opened a second bottle of JJ Black 30 mls and when I added Kcarb, it bubbled so much the pentyl nitrite rose out of the bottle, probably indicating a strong acid/base reaction. I added a lot of Kcarb because the nitrite stung my nostril skin, which it never has done before. Also, effects seem muted, which I suspect is due to acid build up. The 5 bottles I got all have different lot numbers, so they weren't made at the same time.

Anonymous said on Tue, 7 Dec 2021 at 01:43...

Elvis if you haven't left the building what did you think of the juice? That is the most important part. More balls a millimeter or so less of juice but if it lasts longer all the better. No?

Elvis said on Tue, 7 Dec 2021 at 12:54...

Hello Anonymous. Yes I'm still here. Still waiting on Priscilla to make me my peanut butter and banana sandwich. Yes, the juice was decent. I was just wondering if that many balls were necessary. Was it just a way of providing less juice to the customer. Or is there actually some benefit to adding what I believe was way to much. Will it keep my poppers fresh for an extra long time ? If that's the case, I don't mind.

Cornholio said on Tue, 7 Dec 2021 at 13:21...

Halfway full is definitely too much but yes the balls will assist in keeping them fresh. They sequester stray water molecules helping to slow down the acid catalysed hydrolysis of the nitrite. If you dose from the same bottle that you also store them in then plenty of balls is a good thing.
Most commercial vendors don’t include any preservatives (sometimes they have a fake plastic pellet) as the quicker the bottle spoils the sooner you will repurchase.

DrStrange said on Tue, 7 Dec 2021 at 17:06...

Sorry Elvis - posted as Anonymous previously. Only you can tell if it is worth the trouble. I honestly think it isn't to short you on the juice. I have had plenty of bottles that were nearly full but turned to complete crap. I would gladly have settled for half the juice for twice the use time. Also likely what you have is molecular sieves (MS) vs AA. Once done you can save the MS, let it air dry for a long time and then either bake in the oven or microwave, then let cool and add to another bottle. Don't wash and DONT'T bake MS that is still wet from the bottle.

Elvis. said on Tue, 7 Dec 2021 at 17:39...

Thanks DrStrange. I just assumed that it was AA because the Professor here mentiones that makers use it alot. The product itself is actually smaller than what I would call "balls". More like tiny pellets. Maybe it is MS like you mentioned. But I honestly don't know one from the other. Definitely smaller than the white balls typically found in Rush bottles.

And you have a good point, it would be great if I could salvage and reuse the MS for future bottles.

The Professor said on Wed, 8 Dec 2021 at 01:13...

sieves are almost always tan; alumina is almost always white. Sieves are made of a clay like material and are easier to crush than activated alumina.

Elvis said on Wed, 8 Dec 2021 at 14:11...

Tanish in color. Definitely not white.