Chemical Forums
Specialty Chemistry Forums => Other Sciences Question Forum => Topic started by: Thanatopsis on July 10, 2014, 08:59:16 PM
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It says it's 90% sulfur, but what is the other 10%? I'd like to get rid of it to have pure sulfur, but that's kinda hard to do without knowing what it is. The MSDS and all the searching I've been able to do hasn't helped.
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Sulfur is generally sold (as garden grade) with 10% bentonite - a common clay.
The easiest way to purify it is dissolve the mixture in hot toluene or some other suitable solvent, filter off the bentonite, and evaporate the toluene.
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@Zyklonb
I attempted to do a search to find the answer and was unsuccessful
If you have a link I would appreciate it if you would post it
If you know from personal experience that is OK as well - Just let me know
I could definitely use more ingredient references for commercial products
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Here's a few links:http://digitool.library.colostate.edu///exlibris/dtl/d3_1/apache_media/L2V4bGlicmlzL2R0bC9kM18xL2FwYWNoZV9tZWRpYS8yMDY4NjU=.pdf (http://digitool.library.colostate.edu///exlibris/dtl/d3_1/apache_media/L2V4bGlicmlzL2R0bC9kM18xL2FwYWNoZV9tZWRpYS8yMDY4NjU=.pdf)
http://www.kegriver.com/fertilizer_sulfur.htm (http://www.kegriver.com/fertilizer_sulfur.htm)
http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/sale/27692-sulphur-bentonite-90%25.html (http://www.agricultureinformation.com/forums/sale/27692-sulphur-bentonite-90%25.html)
The first seems to explain why betonite is used - although I have't read much of it.
The others just confirm that sulfur is commonly sold with it, in a 90 - 10 ratio.
I haven't tried purifying it myself, but it has been discussed on sciencemadness several times.
http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=29677#pid323992 (http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=29677#pid323992)
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@Zyklonb
These links are good finds and may contain the answer to the original question.
But, searching each link you gave there was no mention of Lilly Miller
A thought - One can not rule out other (trace) impurities within the product in addition to the bentonite that is likely added to the sulfur, especially if the sulfur is mined.
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Oh, I didn't know you were looking for Lilly Miller specifically.
I have never used Lilly Miller's sulfur before (or even heard of it till now).
I'm sure you already saw this, but the Lilly Miller Sulfur MSDS it just says ''Inert diluent and anti-caking agent". I went off the assumption that betonite is what they used - because that's the only thing I've seen used for sulfur.
http://www.lillymiller.com/msds/2007/LM_Sulfur_Dust.pdf (http://www.lillymiller.com/msds/2007/LM_Sulfur_Dust.pdf)
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The original post wanted Lilly Miller sulfur dust.
It seems the product is for pest and fungi control on plants, although I think that it would eventually be a nutrient after it gets to the soil and has bacterial acting on it.
So to get the sulfur to disperse with water the bentonite is the likely additive.
But with the statement everywhere I have look being "Inert Ingredients" one can not be sure there is nothing else in the product.
Something inert to plants and animals may not be inert to alternative chemical processes.
And again, the levels of anything else may be so small as not to have a real effect.