Re: Query: making vs. buying pre-made Lugol's...?

[Guest guest]

Mark: Store crystalline iodine in a small amber glass bottle (more glass

surface, less lid surface) with a threaded plastic top with an interior teflon

seal. Keep in a cool, dark, dry environment: iodine degrades in heat, light and

humidity. Can't give any particular quantitative help on your 2). As to the

solution, once mixed it is best stored in an amber glass bottle, and again kept

in a cool, dark environment. It will degrade rubber dropper tops over time, and

if kept in a container with a metal top, will absolutely corrode the metal in

the top, which should be shielded from the solution by at least one sheet of

waxed paper. Vapors will collect on this over time, and the paper should be

changed monthly to protect both the top and the solution itself. The solution

will degrade over time, but for the purposes of users on this list the amount of

loss is probably trivial unless you're talking about storage over more than

several years plus. Short answers: amber glass, tightly-sealing container to

be kept cool, dark and dry.

Regards, Megaera

>

> I have a small bit of crystal iodine, and notice that even though it is sealed

and inside a sealed bag besides, the iodine seems to vaporize out somehow.

>

> In considering future need for Lugol's, it is attractive to me to make my own

vs. buying pre-made, but...

>

> 1)

> How is crystal iodine BEST stored ?

>

> 2)

> How long can one store it before it becomes weak or otherwise diminished ?

>

> 3)

> Does stored Lugol's also weaken by some kind of gassing-off process ?

>

> 4)

> What is the best, specific type of container for storing crystals and/or

Lugol's in for the longest period of time without problems ?

>

> Thanks !

>

> mark

>