Ok who has used potassium chloride to make their hocl?
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Sure, several growers have done the KCl substitution…here’s the deal…
With kosher salt, and white vinegar the electrolysis forms HOCl + sodium acetate
With KCl and white vinegar the electrolysis forms HOCl + POTASSIUM acetate
The substitution simply removes all sodium from the picture. There is no need to change the formula at all as Sodium and Potassium are almost equal sized/weight atoms. Most of the guys making the substitution are Hydro growers and using 2.5ml/Gal water in their reservoirs (prevents any microbial growth in their systems or reservoir) and they simply don’t want to add any sodium to their systems.
Honestly Bud, I don’t see much in the way of issues with the sodium… I f you’re just treating your foliage for diseases you must remember HOCL is ONLY Surface active…the plant does NOT absorb the sodium !!! I think it’s a bit anal even in Hydro grows, but they asked me for a viable substitution, so I gave it to them…
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Me thinks me head hurts after all that but I’m gonna read it a couple more times in case there is a test one day !
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I’m curious about this since most of the commercial hocl products made for the ag sector boast that they are made with potassium. I do have a slight grip on the chemistry. I made a batch with Potassium chloride last night and it took much longer.
I am also seeing a company that is electrolysing nutrients for foliar applications, they’re making some pretty big claims. I don’t necessarily buy into them but I think it’s interesting.
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Thought I might comment a bit. You know, there’s a lot of misunderstanding’s from things that we hear and whom we hear them from !
I’m 71 years old, and spent my entire adult career in Commercial Ag production in Northern Cali.
You will probably NEVER see hypochlorous acid used in commercial Ag settings !!! It’s Very well established that hypochlorous acid is the absolute best disinfectant available…bar none…so what’s the problem???
With food crops, we put on fungicides as a preventative. During critical development stages in fruit, nut, or vegetable production the application must be on the plant BEFORE a weather event to effectively protect the crop. Unlike treating your grow room or vegetable garden, these applications take a LOT OF TIME. We also need residual protection with these fungicides…most are somewhat rain fast and protect from 7-14 days.
Here are the problems with hypochlorous acid:
- HOCl is surface active and kills EVERYTHING while it’s a liquid. Once it’s dry…it’s done…so you have no ‘residual’ control. To be effective, you’d have to spray HOCl every other day for 7-14 days!
Considering the labor, equipment, fuel costs to spray 3-7 TIMES …yikes - HOCl would have to be applied at half or full strength…OMG, the volume and logistical issues associated with trucking and field storage …yikes…makes my head hurt just thinking about it
Electrolysis really has no place in the formulation of any nutrients that I’m aware of. Our nutrients are all chemical ‘salts’ which are usually combined via acid/base reactions. Electrolysis is necessary to break strong molecular bonds…(like the H+ and OH-) bond in water…
Hope that helps clarify it a little bit, and appreciate your enthusiasm @budleydoright
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Thank you for the clarifications and clear explanations.
I suppose AG sector is the wrong word, but marketed to growers.
This company www.terravera.com is doing larger scale hocl along with electrolyzed nutrient solutions. I have found it quite interesting. I’d love to hear your take if you ever get a chance to peruse their site.
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Well, so I went ahead and picked a 15V 3A DC, a pair of graphite electrodes… and do the thing.
Mine came clear, only a couple residue of carbon floating, but very little. pH about 4 all the mix. With the electrodes 5cm away from each other, it draws near 400mA. I can’t check if hypoclorous is there, but after working in pools, I can assure there is “something”. I store in a bottle and today when opened came that strong smell that is near the pool.
I went ahead and did a live test. As I had some mold in some seeded buds caused primarily by the pollen, and with the help of high rH, After removing the mold tissue, I sprayed the rest of the bud with the solution. 24 hours after, the plant seem ok, no progression of mold for now.
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Is there anything published on how HOCL reacts with trichomes/thc? On the one hand, it’s skin and even eye safe - on the other hand it’s oxidative and kills fungi, bacteria, and insects …
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Yup HOCl is completely safe on trichomes…it’s even used as a superior bud wash !
HOCl is SURFACE ACTIVE only. It does not penetrate ANY plant tisue…that’s why the pH 3.5 ish
presents no problems !
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I had to laugh when I pulled up your link !
In my commercial line, I have been producing Amino Acid Chelated micronutrients since 2013.
I purchase them from an Indian Pharmaceutical Co.
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@Piter Yes! HOCl presents a very slight chlorine odor.
The ONLY Chlorine test strips that are going to work on HOCl are the Bartovation strips I linked above in post # 212
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I will try to find them here.
And a question, In my job I have a photometer. It is for multiple chemicals depending on reactive used. Actually we have it for Cl, (combined/free) pH and some other things… Will it work for this?
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@Piter are we talking about an infrared refractometer?
If so, infrared refractometers are used to measure element concentrations.
Usually, the machines have infrared light bulbs that have a specific wavelength. I believe there are more than one wavelength bulbs required to ID all the elements.
I’m sorry I can’t answer that directly, I’ve never seen it used on mixed molecules, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be…I just have never seen it 
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It is this: primelab.
Anyway I will test when I go back to work.
I see that the hypoclorous is not on the list …
It can measure:hypoclorite, Cl, Dioxide Cl… Etc…
In the page 25 starts to list all that can be mesured with this. But it is a pity not HClO…
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LOL, showing my age !!!
Not the same instrument that I was thinking of at all !!!
Looks like a highly advanced ‘sniffer’…way cool !!
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Yes… It is pretty cool and a little expensive… Around 1000€.
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I switched over to Apera pH pens a couple/few years ago and I love them. I barely have to calibrate it (as long as I keep it stored with solution in the cap).
Would definitely recommend.
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are you referring to your bbp product? I’ll have to take a look.
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Sorry, not sure I understand…
sorry just getting used to this forum. Are you referring to your BBP?
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