I will be doing my first colloidal silver batch today.
I made two "throwaway" batches to slough off any electrode contaminents, and check my system.
1 batch with wire anode, 1 with the coin.
Everything was in line with what I've learned here, so I think I'm ready to cook.
I hope my calculations are correct, for what I'm trying to do. (20ppm)
8 ga wire electrodes. (also have 1oz eagle anode).
2" electrode spacing
4.25" anode depth
1.5 cathode depth
Vigorous stirring. (deep vortex, without bubbles)
1800ml DW
1.8ml Na2CO3 (VDrop=35v to 9.5v)
9ma current
60 minute run time.
72 degrees.
I know i should be over 10v with a 2" spacing, but my sacrificial runs showed NO plating of the cathode.
Kephra's electrolyte formula appears to be spot-on!
Should I opt for less cathode, or more electrolyte, or leave it alone @~10v?
I reduced my test batches with agave syrup, as that's all I have ATM.
1 drop in 1800ml produced good yellow color, with very minor bluish tint.
Turbidity looked very clear, with laser, and focused beam flashlight.
Still looks the same after 24 hours.
Added a pinch of salt to 2 extra 100ml samples, they held up exactly the same overnight. (without added turbidity).
Adding vinegar after 24 hours turned them both reddish brown. (Thanks for the acid test idea RickinWI).
Both the wire, and coin anodes were completely blackened, but heated back to white-ish silver. (Thanks Kephra).
There was no precipitate in the unreduced, leftover IS after 24 hours, and none in the colloidal silver.
Am I on the right track?
-Sancho