How to Store Eggs in Waterglass

Believe it or not, you can actually store eggs for up to a year. While this may not be an issue for most people who pick up their eggs at their local shop, people who keep chickens very often cannot keep up with the volume of eggs their brood produces. Following the steps described below and you can store 6 to 8 dozen eggs for up to a full year.

You will need:

• 1 pint of Sodium Silicate (Waterglass)
• 9 pints of water, preferably rain water as it has less impurities then tap water
• Food grade stone crock or a large screw cap glass jar

Instructions

1. Sterilize the inside of your container with boiling water. Discard the water.
2. Mix 1 pint of sodium silicate with 9 pints of boiled, cooled water in your container. This should be enough to preserve six to eight dozen eggs.
3. Select fresh eggs free from any cracks. Do not wash them prior to storing them (an egg is coated with a light layer of a natural sealing agent called “bloom”. Washing them removes this natural protective coating leaving the eggs more subject to aging and attack by bacteria in the air).
4. Add eggs to the sodium silicate mixture. Make sure the eggs are at least a couple inches below the sodium silicate at all times.
5. Cover the container with a lid or cheese cloth when you cannot fit in anymore eggs. Place the container in a cool, dry place and the eggs will store for nine to twelve months.

Tips

• Wash the eggs thoroughly before using them.
• Smell the eggs as you crack the shells in case any have gone off. Some eggs may have had undetectable hairline cracks, which let bacteria in before you preserved them.
• If you plan to boil the eggs, make a pinhole in one end to release pressure as the waterglass seals the pores during storage.
• As you use the eggs throughout the winter, top off the container with cooled boiled water to replace evaporated sodium silicate mixture.

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Created by Mistral Pure Chemicals. View website

Is Borax about to be banned in the UK?

As you may have read in our previous post, Borax (aka Sodium Borate) is a chemical with a myriad of practical uses around the home.  However, speculation has been growing recently online that this helpful household product is soon to be reclassified as a dangerous substance and banned for sale in the EU and consequently the United Kingdom. On hearing this alarming news we set out to find out if there was any truth to these rumours and what the future really holds for Borax.

Current Legislation

Some light can be shed on this matter by looking at a piece of EU regulation called “Adaptations to Technical Progress”, specifically the 30th and 31st ATP’s.  In this legislation the group of chemicals known as Borates (including Borax) were reclassified as “Reprotoxic Category 2“.  This classification suggests that the product is harmful to the reproductive functions of humans in high doses, and means the substance must carry the skull and crossbones symbol.  The reclassification came about because of a study carried out on pregnant rats who were exposed to high doses of borates [1].  The study suggests that Boric Acid is harmful when exposed regularly to concentrations of more that 5.5%.  For other Borates this limit may be higher depending on the amount of Boric Acid contained.
EU Law states that this reclassification of Borates must take place in each member state by 1st December 2010, however the reclassification itself does not restrict the sale of the substances.  What it means is that Borax is now on the list of Substances of Very High Concern for the REACH Regulation which was set up to protect the population from exposure to harmful substances.  REACH introduces a process in which those substances that are considered to pose an unacceptably high risk to human health and theenvironment may be removed from the market unless there is a justifiable need for them to remain.

REACH

The process for removing SVHC substances from the market can be briefly summarised as follows:
Identification as an SVHC
Entry onto the Candidate List
Prioritisation for Authorisation
Addition to the Annex XIV List of Substances subject to Authorisation

At each stage of this process, there is no certainty that a substance at one stage will necessarily proceed to the next, although if a substance completes the final stage, it will be potentially removed from the market for all uses that are not exempted or for which authorisations have not been granted.

Boric acid and disodium tetraborate salts have reached the second stage in this process. They were added to the Candidate List in June 2010. Entry onto the Candidate List places some legal obligations on suppliers of those substances, but it does not restrict their use in any way [2].

The Future

Whether or not Borax will make it to the end of the REACH process and become completely restricted is still very much uncertain. Until then it remains legal to buy and sell Borax provided that it is correctly labelled and packaged with the appropriate hazard warnings. You can buy Borax online here.  Even if Borates themselves are restricted in the future under REACH, exemptions will probably be made for certain applications [3].  For example the concentration of boric acid used in laundry detergents is much less than the limit imposed by EU classification. Even if Borates become illegal for the general public to buy, other alternatives exist such as sodium percarbonate which is an effective product for cleaning and bleaching.

Check back soon for further updates on this issue.

Refrences:
[1] http://www.mtib.gov.my/techalert/3-2007/BORATESIssue.pdf
[2] http://www.ueil.org/health_environment/documents/boric-jul10-rev02.pdf
[3] http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/chemicals/files/docs_studies/final_report_borates_en.pdf

Top 10 everyday uses of Borax.

If you are viewing this article it is a safe assumption that you have heard of Borax. In fact, you are probably curious as to why it is regarded as such a valuable asset for everyday chores. Well, we are here to help.

Borax has been widely used for centuries. Borax mining train (above) circa late 1800′s.

1. Rub out heavy sink stains
Get rid of those stubborn stains — even rust — in your stain-less steel or porcelain sink. Make a paste of 1 cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Put some of the paste on a cloth or sponge and rub it into the stain, then rinse with running warm water. The stain should wash away with the paste.

2. Remove Rug and Carpet Stains
Remove stubborn stains from rugs and carpets. Thoroughly dampen the area, then rub in some borax. Let the area dry, then vacuum or blot it with a solution of equal parts vinegar and soapy water and let dry. Repeat if necessary. Don’t forget to first test the procedure on an inconspicuous corner of the rug or on a carpet scrap before applying it to the stain.

3. Eliminate urine odour on mattresses
Toilet training can be a rough experience for all the parties involved. If your child has an “accident” in bed, here’s how to get rid of any lingering smell: Dampen the area, then rub in some borax. Let it dry, then vacuum up the powder.

4. Unblock your drain.
Borax is a safe drain opener and a great alternative to those expensive store-bought drain cleaners. Just mix a cup of Borax with some boiling water and empty it down the drain. Any grease stuck in your drain that is causing the clog will melt away.

5. Keep away weeds and ants
Get the jump on those weeds that grow in the cracks of the concrete outside your house by sprinkling borax into all the crevices where you’ve seen weeds grow in the past. It will kill them off before they have a chance to take root. When applied around the foundation of your home, it will also keep ants and other six-legged intruders from entering your house. But be very careful when applying borax — it is toxic to plants.

6. Clean windows and mirrors
Want to get windows and mirrors spotless and streakless? Wash them with a clean sponge dipped in 2 tablespoons borax dissolved in 3 cups water.

7. Smelly bin?
Sprinkle some Borax into the bottoms of your garbage bin to keep it smelling fresh.

8. Help! My cat smells bad and has fleas!
Borax can help! To control the odor of your cats litter box try mixing Borax in with the cat litter. Borax can also kill fleas in your home, simply sprinkle Borax on your carpet and let it set for an hour or more then vacuum it away.

9. Soften Hard Water
If you have hard water add a bit of Borax to your bath to soften it. Hard water makes soaps and shampoos less effective.
And last but not least.

10. Remove mildew from you household and car fabric
To remove mildew from upholstery and other fabrics, soak a sponge in a solution of 1/2 cup borax dissolved in 2 cups hot water, and rub it into the affected areas. Let it soak in for several hours until the stain disappears, then rinse well. To remove mildew from clothing, soak it in a solution of 2 cups borax in 2 quarts (2 litres) water.
There are many more uses of Borax, but we feel that these 10 are the most commonly used and certainly enough to get you going. So what are you waiting for, go and buy borax today and start saving money on all those other expensive cleaning products you no longer need!

A little extra information:
Borax, or sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral compound best known as a laundry booster and water softener. Borax is also excellent as a multi-purpose household cleaner with many uses throughout your house including craft projects. Borax is not flammable and is not reactive. It can be mixed with most other cleaning agents, including chlorine bleach.

Why is Methanol used as a petrol additive?

Methanol , also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, has the chemical formula CH3OH(often abbreviated MeOH). It is the simplest alcohol and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, toxic liquid with a distinctive odor that is very similar but slightly sweeter than ethanol. It is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel and as a denaturant for ethanol. It is also used for producing biodiesel via transesterfication reaction.

So, Why should you add it to your Petrol Tank ?

Well, the simple answer is there are 3 answers! It is used for 3 reasons…
* One is that some areas have restrictions on fuel due to the local pollution levels so it may be required to add it as it burns cleaner.
* Reason two is that many stations use it to help evaporate water that gets into the fuel storage tanks.
Reason three for adding Methanol to Petrolis that it is the best from the point of view of reducing Detonation, followed by Acetone and then Benzole in that order.
Methanol can be added in all proportions up to 100 percent, but as an additive limited to 10 percent will give an Octane increase of about 5 points. For example 98 Octane can be increased to 103, or looking at it another way, cheap fuel of say 91 Octane can, by the use of 10 percent Methanol, or approximately three quarters of a pint per gallon, will produce fuel of 96 Octane.
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How to use Boric Acid powder to kill fleas on carpets

People have been fighting fleas, ants, cockroaches and other pest with boric acid for decades. Boric acid is one of the most effective flea control agents ever developed.  Fleas live off the blood they gain from their hosts, normally animals & pets like cats and dogs but they can also feast on the blood of humans.

Boric acid is a wonderful tool for controlling fleas in homes, especially on carpets where they tend to live and lay their eggs. It is effective in extremely small amounts and retains its potency almost indefinitely provided the deposit remains dry. Boric acid is deadly to fleas, but is low in toxicity to people, pets and other non target animals. It is also odourless and contains no volatile solvents. In humans, boric acid is only slightly more toxic than table salt but care must always be taken when using around pets and children.

Fleas succumb to boric acid when they crawl over treated areas. Boric acid powder kills fleas by acting as a desiccant causing severe dehydration to them and ensuring death. In order to eliminate the fleas it is important to treat all areas by sprinkling the powder over the surfaces.

Where to buy boric acid powder

***How to make an applicator for using boric acid***

Take an old Pringles container or similar which has a detachable plastic lid. It is important to place stick a label on the outside of the container and write clearly that it contains Boric Acid so as there is no chance of it being misused at a later date. Put a few pebbles into the container (these help to prevent the powder caking when it is stored away and also helps when applying). Now fill the container up to about 2/3 full with the boric acid powder. Carefully, using a knitting needle or similar pointed tool pierce the plastic lid of the container 20 or 30 times to form a series of holes through which the boric acid can pass.
Alternatively just buy a shaker as for instance used for castor sugar but make sure that you label it for the boric acid and keep it away from food stuffs and out of reach of children.

***Where to apply the boric acid***

Where the powder is applied is just as important as how it’s applied. Fleas prefer to live in carpets, fabrics, upholstery, bedding etc. All areas can be treated with boric acid powder but care should be taken with coloured fabrics to prevent possible discolouration. If unsure pre-test an inconspicuous area first. Remember to apply under furniture.

NEVER apply boric acid onto countertops or other exposed surfaces, especially those used to prepare food.

***How to apply boric acid to kill fleas***

Before applying boric acid it is advisable to vacuum the carpets, upholstery etc first. Dispose of the vacuum bag into the bin as many of the fleas will been lifted. Remove all loose objects, toys, shoes, etc from the areas to be treated.  For best results, the powder should be applied in a very thin layer barely visible to the naked eye.  To apply a fine layer, shake the container and puff a small quantity of the powder into the target area. Then work the powder into the carpet pile with a soft bristled brush so that it gets down where the fleas tend to live. If applying to upholstery use a hand brush remembering to work the boric acid down into gaps.

After 1 – 2 days vacuum all surfaces treated and vacuum carpets regularly after this as the boric acid will continue to kill both the fleas and their larvae. After a month shampoo carpets.

Where to buy boric acid powder online UK

What is Magnesium Chloride FCC Food Grade and what is it used for ?

What is Magnesium chloride FCC

Magnesium chloride hexahydrate FCC is a high purity, naturally occuring salt with the formula MgCl2 6(H2O) which is suitable for ingestion. It is identified as E511 in the food industry. It is mostly produced from sea water and in particular the Dead Sea. Magnesium chloride as the natural mineral bischofite is also extracted (solution mining) out of ancient seabeds, for example the zechstein seabed in NW europe.
It is a colourless to white, odourless salt with a bitter taste. It has been used for centuries as an aid to improving health and well being. Its therapeutic properties are well recognised and people flock to the Dead Sea every year to bathe in its water to rejuvenate themselves. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceuticals, dialysis and infusion solutions, children and infantile diets, food complements, drinks, salts for sea aquariums.

SPECIFICATION

• CAS No.: 7791–18–6
• EINECS: 232–094–6
• Magnesium chloride hexahydrate: 99% – 100%
• Magnesium chloride: 47% minimum
• Formula: MgCl2 6H2O
• Mol weight: 203.303
• Density: 1.569
• Melting point: 500C
• Dehydration temperature: 117C
• Water solubility: 3043.05 g/L at 20 C
• Appearance:: White powder
• pH: 4.5–7

• High quality magnesium chloride from the Dead Sea.
• Free from phosphate, bromides and ammonia.
• Dissolves quickly to provide clear solution with no residues.

Magnesium chloride is an ionic halide being highly polar and very soluble in water and alcohol. It is classified as a weak lewis acid.

USES OF MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE FCC:

• For batheing in.
• As a Food supplement to improve well-being
• As a Food additive
• Used as an ingredient in infant formulas.
• Pharmaceutical preparations and medical applications.
• Additive for marine aquariums (see below for details)
• As a laboratory reagent.
• For the manufacture of magnesium metal and other magnesium compounds.

Magnesium chloride BP in the food industry

Magnesium chloride is E511. It is an ingredient in infant formulas. It is used as acidity regulator. It is added to purified water to produced mineral water. E511 is an important coagulant used in the preparation of tofa from soya milk. It is used both as a colour retention agent and firming agent in canned peas. It acts as a stabilizer in foods.

For full CODEX applications of magnesium chloride in foods click here
Product is BSE/TSE, GMO, allergen free, suitable for vegan/vegetarian diet. All religious groups, vegans and vegetarians can use E511. It has certification under ISO, GMP, KOSHER, and HALAL

Magnesium Chloride BP for health benefits

For many years Magnesium chloride has been used for batheing and ingesting to improve health and well being. For an insight into the many health benefits of the “Miracle mineral” click here
Magnesium is an essential mineral for the body. Magnesium is a required cofactor for many enzyme systems. It is required for protein synthesis and for both anaerobic and aerobic energy generation and for glycolysis, either indirectly as a part of magnesium-ATP complex or directly as an enzyme activator (Bronzetti et al., 1995; Food and Nutrition Board, 1997).

Magnesium plays a multifunctional role in cell metabolism, particularly at the level of key phosphorylations. The role of magnesium in cell division is also well recognised and it has been suggested that cell division of various cell types is highly dependent on the availability of extracellular magnesium (Rubin, 1975).

In addition magnesium may play an important role in regulating blood pressure, bone and muscle growth and helps to reduce the development of atherosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial damage and arterial hypertension.

Magnesium deficiency has been linked to several disease states involving the cardiovascular, skeletal, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems. The most frequent causes of hypomagnesemia are reduced intake, impaired intestinal absorption, renal loss and genetic diseases.

Magnesium chloride BP in Medical industry

Magnesium chloride is an electrolyte replenisher and a pharmaceutical necessity for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis fluids. It is used as a source of magnesium in the treatment of hypomagnesemia in cattle, and as a chemical defibrillator in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Magnesium chloride acts as a laxative, an antacid and a anticonvulsant. It increases osmotic gradient in small intestine, which draws water into intestines and causes distention. These effects stimulate peristalsis and bowel evacuation. In antacid action, it reacts with hydrochloric acid in stomach to form water and increase gastric pH. In anticonvulsant action, magnesium chloride depresses CNS and blocks transmission of peripheral neuromuscular impulses.

MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE IN MARINE AQUARIUMS:

Magnesium chloride hexahydrate is for adding magnesium to sea water. Severely low values of magnesium (900 mg/L or below) can cause low pH values and an inability to maintain proper alkalinity and calcium values. If magnesium becomes too low, coral growth will stop and followed by a decline in coral health. Carbonates and calcium are essential for all growth of corals, coralline algae, clams and invertebrates. Maintaining the correct magnesium values is very important and is indirectly responsible for coral and coralline algae growth by making it possible to maintain correct calcium, alkalinity and pH values. The magnesium content must often be increased, as shortfalls in the content can arise for various reasons. The normal magnesium content is around 1.30 ??? 1.40 mg/litre (1300???1400 ppm). To increase the magnesium content you need magnesium chloride hexahydrate or a mixture of magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate (ratio of 7:1).

How to dose aquarium with magnesium chloride

50g will raise Magnesium levels by approximately 60ppm in 100 litres of salt water. It is not recommended to increase Magnesium levels by more than 60ppm per day. Simply mix the required amount into a few litres of Reverse Osmosis Water, once dissolved, slowly add to your tank in an area of high flow, preferably over a period of an hour. Alternatively add to your evaporation top up water and top up as normal.

Health & safety

Not a hazardous substance or mixture according to Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008.

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Where to Buy Magnesium chloride Technical grade online
Where Buy Magnesium Sulphate / sulfate online

What is Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate and what is it used for?

What is Copper sulfate pentahydrate:

Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O), is a common salt of copper. Copper sulfate is a bright blue, odourless crystalline solid which is soluble in water. The archaic name for copper(II) sulphate is “blue vitriol” or “bluestone”. It has numerous applications including as a fungicide, algaecide, pesticide, laboratory analytical reagent, feed supplement, zinc etching and as a mordant.

Specification for Copper Sulfate:

• Synonyms: Cupric sulphate; sulphuric acid, Copper salt; Blue vitriol; Bluestone; Sulfate de cuivre; Kupfersulfat Pentahydrat;
• Appearance: blue crystals
• Formula: CuSO4 5H2O
• Assay: 98.5% minimum
• Cu: 25%
• CAS No: 7758–99–8
• EINECS No: 231–847–6
• Mol weight: 246.48
• Melting point: 150 C
• Density: 2.28 g/cm3
• Solubility: soluble in water 316 g/L (0C) 2033 g/L (100C)
• pH: 4 at 50 g/L
• Refractive index: 1.514

Copper sulfate is soluble in methanol (10.4 g/L @18C) but insoluble in ethanol. At 650C copper sulfate decomposes into copper (II) oxide and sulphur trioxide.

Where to buy copper sulfate online UK

How to use copper sulfate for killing Moss:

Copper sulfate kills moss on contact. It is commonly used for treatment of moss on roofs, paths etc but not for grass. For treatment of moss on grass it is best to use Ferrous sulfate.

Mix 5–8g per litre of water. apply this solution at a rate of 1 litre per 5m². When the moss is dead wash off under high pressure.

How to use copper sulfate for treating algae in ponds, fish tanks and aquariums:

Dissolve 30g of copper sulfate and 30g of citric acid in 1 litre of water. For each 5 litres of pond water add 1 drop of the made up solution (this equates to 0.15ppm). Do not allow levels of copper to exceed 0.20 ppm.

How to use copper sulfate for controlling tree roots in drains & sewers

CLICK HERE to read an aticle on how to contol tree roots in drains etc
Several chemical tests utilize copper sulfate as an indicator. In a flame test its copper ions emit a deep blue-green light. It is used infehlings solution and Benedicts solution to test for reducing sugars, which reduce the soluble blue copper(II) sulfate to insoluble red copper oxide. Copper(II) sulfate is also used in the Biuret reagent to test for proteins.

Copper sulfate is also used to test blood for anemia. A drop of the patient’s blood is dropped into a beaker of copper sulfate solution: if it sinks within a certain time, then the patient has sufficient haemogloblin levels and is not anemic. If the blood floats or sinks too slowly, then the patient is iron-deficient and may be anemic.
Copper sulfate is a commonly included chemical in children’s che­mistry sets and is often used in high school crystal growing and copper plating experiments. However due to its toxicity, it is not recommended for small children.

Copper sulfate is often used to demonstrate an exothermic reaction, in which steel wool or magnesium ribbon is placed in an aqueous solution of CuSO₄.

It is used in school chemistry courses to demonstrate the principle of mineral hydration. The pentahydrate form, which is blue, is heated, turning the copper sulfate into the anhydrous form which is white, while the water that was present in the pentahydrate form evaporates. When water is then added to the anhydrous compound, it turns back into the pentahydrate form, regaining its blue colour. It can be used to plate metals with copper.

It finds use in agriculture as a fungicide. Mixed with lime it is called Bordeaux mixture, which is used to control fungus on plant leaves, grapes and other berries. Normally it is used as a 1% solution (100g copper sulfate & 100g Lime per 10 litres of water)

Its use as an herbicide is not agricultural, but instead for control of invasive exotic aquatic plants and the roots of other invasive plants near various pipes that contain water.

A very dilute solution of copper sulfate is used to treat aquarium fish of various parasitic infections, and is also used to remove snails from aquariums. However, as the copper ions are also highly toxic to the fish, care must be taken with the dosage. Most species of algae can be controlled with very low concentrations of copper sulfate.

Other uses include: hair dyes, as a fining in winemaking, and the processing of leather and textiles.

Health & Safety

Risk phrases: R22– Harmful if swallowed. R36/38– Irritating to eyes and skin. R50/53– Very toxic to aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment.

Safety phrases: S22– Do not breathe dust. S60– This material and its container must be disposed of as hazardous waste. S61– Avoid release to the environment.

For full information see MSDS for copper sulfate pentahydrate above in documents section.
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Where to buy copper sulfate online UK