Chemical Forums

Specialty Chemistry Forums => Citizen Chemist => Topic started by: ASAAB on June 19, 2020, 09:41:09 PM

Title: PRESERVING FLOWERS
Post by: ASAAB on June 19, 2020, 09:41:09 PM

Hi there,

I've been trying to find a way to preserve flowers with ethanol, glycol and glycerin but I'm having trouble with the flower transparency and color. Was wondering if anyone had similar issues or knew how to fix this?

I've been trying to do this with red roses. This is my process:
1. Soak the red rose in 100% ethanol for 24 hours. Flower gets dehydrated, and looses its color. The petals look pretty transparent.
2. Immediately soak the rose in a mix of propylene glycol, glycerin, ethanol, and dye for another 24 hours. I've used procion mx dye and food dye but they don't seem to work well as the color looks faded and patchy
3. Rinse the rose with alcohol to get the excessive PG and glycol out

I've attached an example of what my flower looks like.

I read something online about heating the flower to reduce transparency. Has anyone tried this? I put it in a microwave for a few seconds but that didn't work.

Here's a youtube video of the process. This was posted on another thread in the forum that is now closed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3u-4B7d0qo&t=411s


Any help or insights would be greatly appreciated :)

Thank you!

Title: Re: PRESERVING FLOWERS
Post by: Zimmy Nguyen on April 13, 2021, 05:42:50 AM

Hi bro,
I knew this video 3 weeks ago.
I am very interested in this project. I am trying to find all documents related to make forever roses and I have a lab to make it, i am on the way to find forever rose  :) :) :)
I think that you need to add Banking Soda in step 2 (active  nonionic surfactant), replace food color by fabric dye color. It will be better for your flowers. let's try and let me know the result, bro!
I have some documents, it may helpful for you.
Regards,
Zimmy (Ms)

https://patents.google.com/patent/CN109380215A/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/KR20080020034A/en
https://patents.google.com/patent/KR100851211B1/en

Title: Re: PRESERVING FLOWERS
Post by: alfgm90 on May 20, 2021, 10:22:28 PM

hi,  did  you tried already with baking soda in step 2

Title: Re: PRESERVING FLOWERS
Post by: CamillaB on June 08, 2022, 04:37:56 PM

Hey I’m also having no luck with after the same process. Ethanol for 24 hours, then soak the rose head in ethanol, propylene glycol and glycerin with food colouring for another 24 hours. Is there a missing ingredient I’m not using?
Any help I’d be so grateful for
Thanks