Salicylic acid source?

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 19, 2005

I want to try adding salicylic acid to a couple of my home brew developers.

So I checked with my usual chemistry sources and came up dry.

A Google search led me to Sargent/Welch and 100 grams of USP salicylic acid for $7.00. I ordered 100 grams and received this reply:

Sargent Welch is the educational division for VWR, we sell exclusively to
high schools and colleges. Unfortunately since 911, we cannot sell
chemicals or anything related to chemicals to individuals. The liability is
simply to great. We will not be able to process your order.

Does anyone have an alternate source for salicylic acid?

eric · Apr 19, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
I want to try adding salicylic acid to a couple of my home brew developers.

I *thought* salicylic acid was part of regular aspirin?

I know I had it once when I was treated for a [gross]wart[end_gross] on the balls of my foot. A friend of mine, who was a med student at the time, said it was just plain aspirin you can use (or some other household item, man my memory is fuzzy). Short story, I got the thing sliced off.

BradS · Apr 19, 2005

Tom,

You might try Lab Pro. I've dealt with them in the past - though not for the material you mention.

Lab Pro Inc.
1290 Anvilwood Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

(408) 745-0222

http://www.lab-proinc.com/

oh, BTW...I think those quantum physicists would say that everything is quatized (i.e. digital)

titrisol · Apr 19, 2005

It is used for skin health, so I assume some beauty store may sell it in alcohol solution

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 19, 2005

Thanks, G-Noise, I'll give Lab Pro a try.

Eric, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is made from salicylic acid. I'm not sure it will work properly in this application. Maybe Pat Gainer will chime in.

eric · Apr 19, 2005

Tom Hoskinson said:
Eric, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is made from salicylic acid. I'm not sure it will work properly in this application. Maybe Pat Gainer will chime in.

Ahhhh, cool. I knew my failure in HS chemistry was not a waste of time

I wished, back then, they gave some practical applications to chemistry so teenagers would be more interested. I was so bored in chemistry classes.

gainer · Apr 19, 2005

Better ask Ryuji Suzuki. It was his idea. The active ingredient of Scalpicin is salicylic acid. There is a Dr. Scholl's remedy for warts that is mostly salicylic acid.

On a related subject, I have been using methanol in the form of gasoline antifreeze whenever I needed some. The brand "HEET" comes to mind. I sent my 26 year old grandson out to get some, and one place refused to sell it. Another place told him that they could ordinarilly sell only one bottle at a time, about 340 ml. It is used in so-called "Meth labs". They sold him 2 because they knew him and me.

craigclu · Apr 19, 2005

A friendly pharmacist gave me some... It's used in a variety of skin treatment compounds and druggists keep it on hand.

jim appleyard · Apr 19, 2005

IIRC, Formulary sells this. I can't find my catalog at the moment as my house is a black hole!

Now I'm no chemist and I did not fare well in high school chemistry, but I would use a bit of caution when devving film with something that is "mostly" salicylic acid. More knowledgable folks can correct me, but it's something to keep in mind at the moment.

Jordan · Apr 19, 2005

I just checked jdphotochem.com and was pretty surprised to see that they don't have it (they could probably get it, though). It is used in a lot of commonly available face washes and skin creams -- helps with acne, oily skin, etc. Ryuji uses it to chelate and inactivate iron in his developers. Acetylsalicylic acid won't work for this purpose.

I'd second the idea of talking to a pharmacist. Even better if you know each other well.

jd callow · Apr 19, 2005

eric said:
Ahhhh, cool. I knew my failure in HS chemistry was not a waste of time

I wished, back then, they gave some practical applications to chemistry so teenagers would be more interested. I was so bored in chemistry classes.

You didn't go to high school in the 70's?

gainer · Apr 20, 2005

Jordan said:
I just checked jdphotochem.com and was pretty surprised to see that they don't have it (they could probably get it, though). It is used in a lot of commonly available face washes and skin creams -- helps with acne, oily skin, etc. Ryuji uses it to chelate and inactivate iron in his developers. Acetylsalicylic acid won't work for this purpose.

I'd second the idea of talking to a pharmacist. Even better if you know each other well.

The idea being that ferrous iron is largely responsible for shortening the life of ascorbate developers and is not inactivated by commonly used chelating agents that workon ferric iron. The salicylic acid would not be a major part of the developer.

I don't think the ingredients in Scalpicin other than salicylic acid would have much effect on the development. One of them is propylene glycol. It would be a rather expensive way to go.

dancqu · Apr 20, 2005

jdef said:
"Photographers Formulary carries it."

$3.95 for 10 grams, no restrictions. I'd think that good for
several liters. You'd think the Formulary would be on everyone's
"usual sources" list. Dan

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 20, 2005

dancqu said:
jdef said:

"Photographers Formulary carries it."

$3.95 for 10 grams, no restrictions. I'd think that good for
several liters. You'd think the Formulary would be on everyone's
"usual sources" list. Dan

Click to expand...

$3.95 for 10 grams vs $7. to $10.00 for 100 grams. PF is on my list, but nowhere near the top.

gainer · Apr 20, 2005

PF price for 100 g is $12.72. They also have sodium salicylate for $29.95/pound. This is 86% salicylic. If you put the acid in a solution with any kind of base, you will have salicylate ions floating around, so I can't see how it would make that much difference whether you use 1.2 grams of sodium salicylate for every gram of the acid. Whichever is easiest to get.

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 20, 2005

Thanks, Pat!

Salicylic acid source?

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