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View Full Version : Gray Quick Match testing for Potassium Perchlorate



displayfireworks1
03-18-2017, 06:33 PM
I going to move forward with testing the gray strand version of quick match for Potassium Perchlorate. The testing procedure comes from a comment on my YouTube channel. I will also post what I found on the internet that appears to confirm that method. I may need to do this in multiple steps over a period of time. I am open to recommendations and also welcome others to test the product and post your findings and pictures on the pyrotalk forums.
The first set of pictures will be the control part of the experiment. I think it accurately shows the reaction and purple color of Methylene Blue in the presence of perchlorate. If when I move into the gray fuse testing and it shows perchlorates, then we will know the answer. However, this testing will not rule out the presence of Potassium Chlorate. That may require further testing.
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Found on the internet.
Methylene blue is used for staining specimens that are to be examined under a microscope. It may be possible to purchase it in a shop that sells dyes. It is sometimes sold in pet shops as a dilute solution for treating diseases of fish.
A 0.3% solution of Methylene blue is made by dissolving 0.3 grams Methylene blue in 100ml water. When a drop of this is put into a (liquid) sample from a cell that has Perchlorate in it the Methylene blue will form an insoluble purple precipitate. The solution should not be acid, if it is the purple ppt. will dissolve and you will not see it. The solutions must also be cold (important). It is fairly sensitive and will detect Perchlorate levels at one gram per litre or less. You should add the Methylene blue to the sample to be tested for to see the color change.
If a drop of the sample is put on a glass slide and a drop of Methylene blue added, this will make the test more sensitive.
Persulphates and Dichromate (cell additives) also give a purple colour which is difficult to distinguish from the Perchlorate precipitate. The dilution of theses substances will be fairly large and will probably not interfere with the test. Test a sample of your cell at the start of the run in order to see if the Persulphate or Dichromate is causing a purple colour. You will then be able to judge an increase in purple colour as being caused by Perchlorate formation.
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I think we are looking good so far at this point. Here are the control pictures to establish the Methylene Blue reaction.
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displayfireworks1
03-19-2017, 05:16 PM
Here comes the rest of the testing. I used two different rolls of the gray fuse quick match, if you look closely you will see the subtle build difference between them. The control here is the Sunny Brand quick match. All fuse sat in cold water for at least 25 minutes. I then removed the fuse and left a few pieces in each sample for identification. The plastic cups were also marked with corresponding number or "Sunny" for further identification. One drop of Methylene Blue was added to each sample. Interesting finding was, most the gray fuse floated for entire time period. I think the test confirms the presence of perchlorate in two of the samples.
If someone wants to run the same test , please feel free to do so and post it on the forums. This Methylene Blue is sold where tropical fish supplies are sold. I also suspect if the so called gray Consumer Fast fuse is tested it will show the same results.
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displayfireworks1
03-19-2017, 05:18 PM
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displayfireworks1
03-19-2017, 05:20 PM
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