Using KOH and NaOH on the same batch. Any issues forseen?

[neisel]

Doing the normal double glyc wash, non-tit, 2 stage KOH & methanol, pre-wash, water wash process & it occurred to me I have about 10 kilos of NaOH & I could use that for the second stage. As I say I'm was pre-washing after 2nd stage & discarding it immediately so what the hell!

Tried in once & it was uneventful, would the panel expect that to continue?

Any benefits (apart from cost)?

TIA.

[Jamesrl]

I've read on the VOD channel of someone using 75% NoAH and 25%KOH mixed on both stages, the idea being to reduce costs yet maintaining liquid glyc.

It worked for them, try it on a small scale first ie. a Dr. pepper test.

[neisel]

I seem to dimly recall reading or hearing that NaOH produces less soap.

Is that correct?

[Glycer-rides]

Not sure it produces less soap, just that the Na soap clears faster for the non-water washers.

BTW I've been thinking of doing the same thing, K first stage, Na second. Can't see it would be a problem.

[dgs]

I've done it a few times without issues. I very often use 50/50 ASM/ KOH just to use up the ASM without the glyc going solid.

I've never tried ASM on its own, too scared of solid glyc!

[julianf]

My ideal combination (as in when I have both in stock) is to use sodium for stage one, as its cheap and brutal, and the potassium for s2, where the quantity required is less, and the glyc (nice clean glyc from s2) stays liquid for prewahsing the next batch.

[Glycer-rides]

Julian, that approach wouldn't yield enough S2 liquid glyc. to work well for me

[julianf]

I get about 25ltrs from my Whywhaste reactor on s2.
That's not enough for me without heating and settling before the prewash.