Not in my part of the country (mid-south USA). SWIM EVERY fuckin photo-related store that was in the yellow pages and not even one carried it (most didn't even know what it was). SWIM ended up having to go through local chem supplier.
Swim is having the problem as this fellow. Swim has even checked major surrounding cities, no luck. Should swim call it a different name? Swim has heard it can be distilled from
White Vinegar. Is this an upto date and acceptable method:
Materials:
Gallon of White Vinegar. (Try to get 9% acidity "pickling" vinegar)
Container of Lye Anyone have any idea how much total
Sulfuric Drain Opener
pH paper
Distillation rig
Plastic bucket
Large cassarole pan(sp?) Pyrex glass and Corning ceremics are good.
Method:
Pour vinegar into the bucket. Add lye a little at a time. Bee careful about that volcano action. Also always keep lye bottle closed when not using it. And don't use a metal spoon.
Sodium Acetate is being formed. It is water soluable so you won't see it. Keep adding lye until it stops fizzing when more is added. Check the pH. You are shooting for a pH between 7 and 9. If it is below 7 then, when you go to concentrate it, some of the vinegar will vaporize and stink. The higher it is above 7 the more unreacted lye will be left over so add slowly.
Pour the liquid into your cassarole dish. The inevitable extra lye is why you've gotta use glass. Lye will react with the glass but very slowly. Whatever you do don't use an aluminum pot! Put it in the oven at 300C so that the water will all evaporate away. Expect it to take many many hours. anyone know how long many many translates to?
When all the water is gone you'll be left with a crusty substance that is mostly sodium acetate but also probably a little bit of lye. You will be happy if you are not using a white cassarole because it will be easier to see it and get it all out when you start scraping...
Slowly and Carefully add sulfuric drain opener. Distill and collect between 110-125.
If anyone has a better method or suggestions feel free to advise.
Thanks for the help! In advance!
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=acetic+acid+photo (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=acetic+acid+photo)
A simple search on Google shows a bunch of pages with brand names and suppliers... I am sure your local photo supply will help you further :) Good luck!
I am happy people sell GAA. Truthfully, this is no shocker to me. I am glad people sell it in your area as well. I am certian this makes it much easier for you to obtain. Swim would love to walk into a store and purchase some GAA, this would be too cool! However, after serious consideration and deep thought swim's decided not to move closer to where you live. Swim fully understands if they moved to your area they could purchase GAA with ease, like you(lucky bastard) But, this is not an option(today). . . Swim has already called all the local suppliers in their town. It's just not carried. If the TFSE is checked on The Hive you will notice other people saying it's not available in their town either. Swims problem is the location of their equipment will only be vacant for 1-3 more days. Overnight shipping would more than double the cost of this stuff. If it's as easy to make as my earlier post said swim doesn't think it seems smart to tax on another $20 shipping fee. Anyhow, if someone could help with the original 2 questions(1st post) and. . . In reference to the first post there is one last question
Slowly and Carefully add sulfuric drain opener. Distill and collect between 10-125.
How much sulfuric acid is added?
Note about the "Google Crack" over 1080 hits were found on google alone not to mention: About, Ask, Yahoo, Dogpile, Excite and others. Swim is well aware of how to use a search engine, I think? But, swim doesn't have time to read all 1080".
Swim doesn't mind spending countless hours reading, researching and learning but feels this is unnecessary.
Expect it to take many many hours. anyone know how long many many translates to?
3-4 hours...?
(Hope I did the math correctly; didn't have my Merck avaliable, so I had to look up the mol weights on the net. :) )
Edited wrong gallon size; thank you psytech :)