How about electrolysis?
I experimented with etchant regeneration by electroplating before
(carbon welding rod electrodes) and got copper plated from the CuCl,
but there was also some gas created (probably hydrogen, oxygen, and
chlorine). I abandoned the experiments, but later we discussed the
possibility of using the gasses for regeneration, maybe with a
downstream reactor or some other means to improve efficiency.
You could also electrolyse clean saline solution externally and pipe
the oxygen and chlorine into the etcher, preferably taking care not to
ignite the gasses (should be safe if the gas volume is kept low). But
it seems appealing to electrolyse the etchant and remove some excess
copper in the process.
What's up with google mail spell checker? It highlights correct words,
and when I click them I get exactly the same word in the suggestion
list...... stupid thing.
ST
On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 7:31 PM, Ken Stuempges<ozarkshermit@...> wrote:
> Yes, they do release Oxygen, in the form of bubbles, when placed in water (normally a live bait tank for minnows). I made a small airtight container with a connection to my normal bubbler hose, filled it 3/4 full of water, dropped in a tab, sealed the container, and waited - - and the result I had was there were barely any bubbles being released from the tab. I bought a couple of tabs off ebay - perhaps they were old and degraded. I'm not sure how much (if any) the tablets are supposed to "fizz". The tablets are available new for 79 cents each, but they only come in a box of 18 cards, two tabs per card, at that price. I didn't want to get an entire box only to find out my scheme would not work.
>
> I really thought if they released enough Oxygen that it would speed up regeneration - and eliminate the need to add peroxide.
>
> Ken