Aerating silver bath

D_Quinn · Jan 27, 2023

Is there any method to measure if the silver bath needs to be aerated except for checking with smell, and also to be sure that the bath no longer contains ether and alcohol after aeration? I have a health issue with smelling things.

Also what is a safe way to aerate the silver bath that I can do under cold winter weather (temperature, outside 5C inside 20C /Humidity 40-50%)?
Anyone who has a fish tank aerator to remove excess ether and alcohol?
Thank you in advance.

koraks · Jan 27, 2023

Hm, that's a tricky one, since specific gravity measurements will be thrown off by other stuff in the mix, and the contamination with ether and alcohol probably won't shift things too much anyway.

In your case I'd probably just 'pre-emptively' aerate from time to time. What's the volume of the bath you're working with? I doubt the little vapor that comes off it would be much of a concern in a reasonably ventilated indoor space.

Donald Qualls · Jan 27, 2023

Not familiar with this process to this level of detail, but what's the downside of aerating too much? Could you just get an aquarium pump and airstone and aerate the silver bath for a while after every use?

D_Quinn · Jan 28, 2023

Thank you both for the comments.
I have two 1 liter silver nitrate baths each of them is stored in a plastic bottle tightly capped.
As for the aquarium pump idea, I try to get one and use it to see how it works.

But at the same time do you think if I put the bottle of silver nitrate, the lid opened, in a large tray filled with hot water, say 80C(140C), do you think it helps evaporate ether and alcohol being contaminated in the silver bath?

Two23 · Jan 28, 2023

I would not do the aquarium pump deal. It's going to be very messy. Remember silver stains are nearly impossible to remove. In winter I simply put the solution in my sunning jar with a nylon stocking stretched over the top to keep dust out, and place it up on a high enough window sill or even a ledge that gest some direct sun. Some place kids or the cat can't get into it. Leave for a few days and that should do it.

Kent in SD

D_Quinn · Feb 1, 2023

Hi Kent, Thanks for your comments.
I guess I just have to be careful where I put the solution as we get earthquakes quite often in Japan.
Even winter direct sun can help evaporate within a day or two if I keep it by the window, do you think?
The room temp. is quite low around 68F.
Thanks in advance.

Aerating silver bath

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