[SEL] Re: Molasses Derusting

[Larry Evans]

At 07:05 AM 11/14/2006, you wrote:
>Thanks Rob,
>
>That ( the bug story ) sounds so rediculous - It has to be true.
>
>It also makes sense.

Joe,
A few years ago my brother was curious as to what was happening in the 
molasses solution and was able to contact a chemist at the U. S. Sugar 
Corp. in Florida.  As you can see he said the same thing Rob did, just a 
little different terminology.

>Thanks for your inquiry on using molasses for rust removal. We've heard of 
>lots of uses for molasses but this is a "first". We have run tests on 
>undiluted molasses and liquid feed nutritional supplements manufactured 
>with molasses to estimate the effects of molasses on erosion of metal from 
>storage vessels. In their "undilute" form these products are generally 
>less "corrosive" than distilled water. In the dilute form you describe I'm 
>confident you're getting a microbial fermentation process likely involving 
>both bacteria and yeast fermentations (as evidenced by the foaming you 
>describe). Some of the products of fermentation are short chain fatty 
>acids which will make soluble various cationic minerals, among them iron. 
>A bit of trivia regarding this topic and perhaps quotable documentation 
>follows:
>
>Gillman et al (American Journal of Pathology 35:349-368, 1959) reported 
>that members of the Bantu tribe (in Africa) experienced hemosiderosis 
>(iron toxicity) as a result of brewing (fermenting) beer in iron utensils. 
>The by-products of fermentation apparently solublized the iron and upon 
>drinking the brew resulted in extremely high dietary iron intakes.
>
>The moral of this story is that you and your antique-restoring buddies 
>probably shouldn't partake of this molasses-based cleaning solution (brew) 
>but it should be an appropriate and harmless nutrient solution for 
>watering household plants!
>
>Again, thanks for your inquiry and sharing with us your very interesting 
>application of molasses.
>
>Regards,
>
>Chet
>
>Dr. Chet Fields, Ph.D., PAS
>Mgr., Product Development & Nutrition
>Molasses & Liquid Feed Dept.
>U. S. Sugar Corp.
>P. O. Drawer 1207
>111 Ponce de Leon Ave.
>Clewiston, FL 33440



>_______________________________________________
>SEL mailing list
>SEL at lists.stationary-engine.com
>http://www.stationary-engine.com/mailman/listinfo/sel

Larry Evans
Arcadia, Southern California, USA
MailTo:LFEVANS at pacbell.net
http://www.oldengine.org/members/levans/