pyromaniac Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 Sodium chlorate synthesis by electrolysis? I am trying to synthesize sodium chlorate by electrolyzing table salt mixed with water. I already tried it with carbon rods from lantern batteries that I took apart and some salt water that I made. I put a current through it with a car battery charger (4 amperes and 6 volts) for four days and then I filtered the electrolyte inside through a t-shirt a couple of time and then I boiled the water away until I got crystals. I scooped the crystals out and then put them on a cookie tray in the oven to dry out at 200 degrees for a couple of hours. To test it, I mixed it with some sugar at a ratio of 3:1 sodium chlorate to sugar and then ground it up in a mortar and pestle. I tried lighting a little and it didn't work. I am guessing that I could have messed up in a lot of ways. I plan to buy a mixed metal oxide anode and a titanium cathode for the electrodes and use my converted ATX power supply for my power. I also want to use a 3 gallon bucket for my container instead of the pickle jar that I used. I don't remember the salt water ratio that I used but I do remember that not all of it would dissolve and some of it sank to the bottom. This led me to believe that all it really meant was to make a saturated solution salt water. If I did use a 3 gallon bucket full of saturated salt water solution then how long would it take to convert the sodium chloride to sodium chlorate using my ATX lab power supply at 12 volts? My anode and cathode will be 2" by 6" with a 3" lug. How long will it take and will my next set up work well? I do NOT want to start making perchlorate because that will corrode my anode. I only want chlorate. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Well first off, dont you think 3 gallons is a bit large a synthesis? im currently on the same project. the run time will be dependent on amperes. 3 gallons of saturate Aqueous KCl at 12 volts which im assuming is something like ten amps, will take something like 2 weeks.... some problems ive run into is corrosion of the container, remember your dealing with Chlorine gas. be sure to google-up some of the properties of the plastic.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hal. Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Danny , I'm sorry if I can't see it , but pyromaniac is working with Sodium salts . Are you using Potassium salts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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