Regenerating GFO

[teesquare]

Two questions:
1. There was a mention of a Randy article on this subject - or about GFO...? Where can I find it? Search does not pull up anything for "GFO"

2.Reference made to another thread posted in the "BP" forum....? Any ideas where to find that?

T

 

[ScooterTDI]

Randy has an article on GFO I believe, I don't think it mentions anything about regeneration though.

I think the "BP" thread mentioned is the thread in on NP Biopellets.

Scott

 

[teesquare]

Thanks Scott!

T

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

Somewhere on pg??? JP mentions in a post something like "you can regenerate gfo too"

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Randy has an article on GFO I believe, I don't think it mentions anything about regeneration though.

It does not. I've always said it was possible, even with just a lot of RO/DI water washing, but I'd not seen anyone try it, and accelerating the process with acid or base seems to work better than I expected it would. I thought the GFO might dissolve in acid, and I did not expect base would work.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Iron Oxide Hydroxide (GFO) Phosphate Binders
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-11/rhf/index.htm

Regenerating GFO
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1734717

 

[jptenklooster]

50% solution is equal to 50 gram of NaOH per 100 ml. this means that it is 50/40= 1.25 Mol/100ml wich is equal to 12.5 mol/l NaOH solution. So you have to dilute it 12.5x => 1000/12.5 is 80 ml.

Could someone estimate how much of a 50% sodium hydroxide solution would be needed to get 1 liter at 1M?

Sure. You need 40 grams of solid NaOH, or 80 grams of 50%. The density is probably around 1.5 g/mL, so maybe 50-60 mL.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Were you meaning your post as a correction to mine? I think mine is correct. 50% is not 50 g/100 mL, but 50 g/100 g total mass, which is not 100 mL.

 

[jptenklooster]

Hi Randy,

we always use w/v percentages for solutions, but it was not clear to me whether it was w/v or w/w, that is why I put my calculation there as well.

ciao jp

 

[CleveYank]

You should be able to buy 'caustic lye', 'lye', 'caustic soda' from any local soapmaker supply shop (if you have one).

- Tagging along...great discussion and glad I saved all my old GFO!

Scott

another source

http://www.lyedepot.com/purchase_lye/index.html

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

we always use w/v percentages for solutions, but it was not clear to me whether it was w/v or w/w, that is why I put my calculation there as well.

OK.

FWIW, I think commercial ones, like this one from Cole Parmer, are weight percent (w/w):

http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=8802420

"EW-88024-20 Sodium Hydroxide Solution (50% w/w/Certified) (500mL)"

 

[James79]

The lye product I'll be using is a drain cleaner that's MSDS sheet lists as having 30-50% NaOH. I suspect that it is closer to 30%. Judging from the other posts in this thread a solution from .1M to 3M should work. Please correct this assumption if incorrect.
If using muriatic acid or distilled vinegar what is the proper dilution rate?
This would make a great article for Reefkeeping with step by step instructions!

 

[teesquare]

Does it happen to mention what the remaining 50-70% is comprised of?
T

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do you have a link to that MSDS?

If that material is a solid, I would not use it. The remainder is not just water, or else it would be liquid.

 

[ethank77]

Localy I have been able to find ROOTO which says it is 100% NAOH and I am trying this out Have hihg hopes that it is going to work.

 

[HOB]

Interesting stuff........ I'll have to give it a try.
Got me thinking about re-using other stuff that I throw out. Is there a way to regenerate or clean used carbon?

 

[redfishsc]

Interesting stuff........ I'll have to give it a try.
Got me thinking about re-using other stuff that I throw out. Is there a way to regenerate or clean used carbon?

I read once in one of Martin Moe's books that carbon can be regenerated with heat, and he suggested using a pottery kiln. I once had a kiln available to me for free (it had barely survived a shop fire) but decided that the cost to repair the few parts damaged by fire, and the electrical cost, was more than the carbon would cost me for a few years, lol (I only had a couple tanks 55g or under).

I'm not totally sure that would work though, as I think carbon is activated by heating it to extreme temps in the absence of oxygen, and a pottery kiln is anything but. The carbon may simply burn up.

I'm sure someone around here has tried this if you want to start a new thread to get their attention.

 

[ScooterTDI]

Yea, I don't know of anyway that carbon can be regenerated by hobbyists. Carbon isn't going to survive a kiln. I wouldn't even attempt doing that because putting out a potential fire inside a > 500 C kiln will be very dangerous.

Scott

 

[redfishsc]

Eh, I think a small amount (like a handful) wouldn't hurt, esp if it were in the bottom of the kiln.


An interesting link:
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache...vation+Kiln"+is+used&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[teesquare]

Looks like from the above metioned thread -- it *MAY* be useful to re-generate....
If you are counting on carbon, and it's potential for working to it's full potential...WHY would you spend that much time, effort, fuel - or electricity - and still not know for a certainty - to what degree of efficiency you have brought it back to???

At 1/2 cup volume per 50 gallons of water to treat...it is relatively cheap - even for a large system.

Just does not seem worth it to try to home-brew re-generate it to me....
But that's just my 3-1/2 cents worth ( with inflation figured in!:lol2

BUT - with respect to all - especially the OP - this thread is suposed to be about re-charging GFO.
So - Someone may want to start a thread on re-charging carbon, as a separate issue. You will get more response too!
T