DIY alk solution as per Randys Alk recipe #1

reefaboo · Apr 5, 2016

Hi Randy

so i followed your recipe #1 for alk

I used arm and hammer brand baking soda found in walmart and baked 2.25 cups of it at 300F for about an hour
Then tried to mix it with rodi water to make a gallon of alk solution ..

Does this sound right ?

I have mixed every few mins for about couple of hours or so (this is yesterday ) and left it sitting all night . .. this morning i still se a lot of it unmixed this morning. .. Is this common ??

is it ok to just use the clear liquid and discard the residue ? i assume the concentration would go down and i have to dose more than what the calculations say ?

Downbeach · Apr 5, 2016

I've found it easier to bake for a longer time at a higher temperature, i.e. 1 1/2 hr @ 400 degrees. If you have a hand held blender it will help to get the remaining "residue" liquidized, you could also try to heat it up too.

redfishbluefish · Apr 5, 2016

I've found that baking at 350 for an hour converts all the sodium bicarb. to sodium carbonate. What happened with you is that the heat wasn't high enough or not long enough to covert all the baking soda to sodium carbonate (soda ash). Sodium bicarb (baking soda) has much lower solubility than the baked stuff (sodium carbonate...soda ash). That's why you can't (and won't) get it to go into solution. And FYI, you really can't over bake it, so, if anything, add a little time to your baking. :D

EDIT TO ADD: Also, what did you bake the baking soda in? You ideally what a relatively thin layer to allow the baking soda to get hot enough and the CO2 to escape.

reefaboo · Apr 5, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
I've found that baking at 350 for an hour converts all the sodium bicarb. to sodium carbonate. What happened with you is that the heat wasn't high enough or not long enough to covert all the baking soda to sodium carbonate (soda ash). Sodium bicarb (baking soda) has much lower solubility than the baked stuff (sodium carbonate...soda ash). That's why you can't (and won't) get it to go into solution. And FYI, you really can't over bake it, so, if anything, add a little time to your baking. :D

EDIT TO ADD: Also, what did you bake the baking soda in? You ideally what a relatively thin layer to allow the baking soda to get hot enough and the CO2 to escape.

dang nothing is easy in this hobby is it haha ..

well i baked at 330F for 30 mins ( spouse baked a brownie something along with it ) and then i changed it to 300 and baked it for another 40 mins or so ..

i baked it in the same kinda pan you posted about but didnt really spread it .. i poured it like a heap and and left it that way ..

hmmm so can i still use the clear liquid of what ever mixed ? i assume the concentration would be lower and i have to dose more ? or is there any other disadvantage and better to discard the whole thing and bake again ?

redfishbluefish · Apr 5, 2016

You can still use it, albeit weaker than the recipe, so you'll have to dose more. Just test more frequently to make sure you're staying in the alk range you wish to be.

If it were me, baking soda is dirt cheap. I'd toss it and start over. I think I pay somewhere in the area of $5 for that 13 pound bag at Sam's Club.

revhtree · Apr 5, 2016

Maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley will create a post here for us at R2R about this process. :D

Randy Holmes-Farley · Apr 5, 2016

You can take the solutions and solids you have now and boil it to dissolve, or you can add more water and just plan to dose more. :)

Many people find hotter or longer and spread out in baking is good. No need to worry about overcooking it as that cannot happen in a kitchen oven. :)

reefaboo · Apr 5, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
You can take the solutions and solids you have now and boil it to dissolve, or you can add more water and just plan to dose more. :)

Many people find hotter or longer and spread out in baking is good. No need to worry about overcooking it as that cannot happen in a kitchen oven. :)

:) thanks Randy ... so undercooked is ok too it seems just weaker :)

i think ill toss it off and bake some more again ..