This was fortuitous timing. I said to myself last year "If ElementalMaker doesn't post a new video by mid-day on January 17th I will have to unsubscribe". Talk about getting it in just in the nick of time. Glad to see Bill let you out and hope the Stockholm Syndrome isn't too intense. :)

I toured factory where ammonium perchlorate is made for the space shuttle main engines. The chlorate cell consists of a 3" piece of copper tube 3' long for the cathode, capped on the ends with in & out hoses. The anode is a carbon rod, internally set concentrically, coated with lead oxide. The manufacture of the lead oxide coating is a trade secret. (I saw trash pile with 1000's of "dead" anodes.) The clearance between the electrodes is about 1/16". Starting chemical is saturated salt solution (guy claims potassium salt will not go to perchlorate.) 10 amps flows through each cell. Cells are connected in sets or 10 in parallel, & these sets are connected in series until 400 volts of voltage is needed from a huge transformer/rectifier. Each sell has caps on its ends & Tygon tubing about 1/2" diameter is for supply & output. What I could not determine is how the current is prevented from flowing the "wrong way" through all the tubing interconnections which contain conducting liquid. The entire cell array is mounted on huge fiberglass insulating structure. No points reachable by human are more than a few volts different, people routinely can do maintenance on cells (exchanging bad ones, etc.) WHILE array is running! A large pump circulates the salt solution through 1000's of the cells & a main holding tank at a FAST pace. Processing is done in batches, each one requiring days to process. Chloride is processed all the way to perchlorate in 1 step in the same cells. Apparently the lead oxide is the "magic" that allows this to happen. Other manufacturers have to make the chlorate to perchlorate step in separate set of cells. The whole cell array room stinks of chlorine (it diffuses through the miles of Tygon tubing). The problem is that no matter how long you run, chlorates will be present. Some chemicals are added after the batch is done to reduce the chlorates back to chloride, leaving the perchlorates alone. Then other chemicals must be added to precipitate out those chemicals (I recall barium was used in this step). Then HCL & ammonia are added to precipitate NH4ClO4 as temperature swings from boiling to freezing in controlled way in a crystallizer vessel to make proper crystal size. These go through giant rotating pipe (like cement kiln) to dry & passed through stack of graded sifter stack into barrels. Remaining solution is boiled down & added to the next batch The mistake you made was turning off the current. NEVER turn off the current without immediately disassembling the cell, or the cathode will be eaten!

Sorry to hear about the remodeling horrors but glad you're back making videos. I know I can speak for most when I say that we've missed you sharing your projects and colorful commentary with us! 👍👍👍

The coating on the second one with the round cathode almost certainly is MMO. I cut the round pin off and used the MMO electrode to electrolise some copper sulphate to sulphuric acid along with some copper pipe as a cathode. MMO holds up well in acid.

Where you been brother? We've missed our science pimp!

Oh, am i glad to see you back. Hope you and the fam are doing good.

Regarding chlorate primers... Easiest way I found to clean your firearm after firing chlorate primers is to start with patches soaked in water, then squeezed out, run down the barrel with a jag. Then, the rest of your cleaning and oiling regimen, as usual. The water dampened patch clears the water soluble potassium chloride, where gun oil, Ed's Red, Break Free CLP, (petro based) etc. just leaves it corroding your barrel. (But, what about the rest of your gun??? If you have combustion gasses going anywhere other than down the barrel, you have bigger problems than corrosion, or a revolver.)

Glad to see you back. Missed your knowledge. Thx

These videos are so easy to listen to, your voice is amazing, and I could watch these for hours

Hey glad to see you back Mr.ElementelMaker. I have missed you and your epic video productions in addition you always have cool + interesting views on things.

Really happy you're back!

Glad to have you back! I've been missing your videos

Great to see you back, alway love your videos.

I'm so happy you're back! I love all your videos!

I’m glad to see you back.

Missed ya!!! Been so busy I can't keep up with all the KZfaq channels I've loved over the years. Glad you're back, hope you've enjoyed your time away, hope to see more from you!!

I wasn't aware of these little devices. Great video, my man!

I'm also glad to see you back on KZfaq!

I'm happy to see you again my friend.

FINALLY... feels like its been years since your last video, thanks for uploading!

Good to see you back!

Happy New Year! You were missed but I sure feel ya on the home remodeling. (And the smell in the wall.)

Glad to see you back

Didn't get a notification, but this still showed up in my recommendations luckily. Glad to see you've been able to get some more time finally.

I was just thinking and checking the channel yesterday wondering if you had posted recently. Hope life is treating you well. Glad to see your back \o/

It's good to see you are still alive

Welcome back hope things are going well

Hi ya so pleased to see you back, hope your family 👪 are getting enough sleep,

Great, that you are back!

Man I was getting worried. Good to see you're back

Happy New year ElementalMaker!!! Glad to see you back bud! It sure has been awhile. Looking forward to some new uploads! Be well bud!

Awesome video👍 good to see you back

Hey. You´re not dead. Nice. ^^

I subscribed to you during the primer crisis because I was getting desperate and was considering reloading primers but I really like your content!

Great to see you back. I knew Bill had a dungeon.

yay finally back, been missing your videos

I bought a couple of the round ones and ran them to failure at 2.1a. I got a few pounds of kclo3 from them. They corrode at the connection with the cord. I also have an mmo electrode set and a platinized electrode set Electrochemistry is fascinating!

Think we was all worried about you. Welcome back

Very interesting stuff, thanks

You're alive! Welcome back!

Welcome back Bob.

yay he's back!

Cool. Thank you. 👍

Welcome back!

Return of the King.

There are two things you must know about Big Clive. The first is that his name is Clive and the second is.... Nice work. Many thanks for the entertainment!

You're alive!!!I was going to stay searching for a backup channel just in case. I think you need a backup channel anyway!!!+ All balance in the universe has been restored!

Interesting... After watching this video, I found that they make chlorinators for saltwater swimming pools that may be a decent source of electrodes for decent sized cells...

I 'm glad to see you back. I was afraid you went the same way as my other KZfaq hero Apetor.

Hells Yeah Elemental Maker 😎 Best voice on YT returns , Yahtzee !! 👍🏼👍🏼😂😂❤️❤️

welcome back!

great video

That little thing makes bleach? That's awesome for a shtf bugout bag. Thanks man!

Welcome back to the youtubz!!! :)

welcome back

Holy crap you're alive!!!

Long time no see! Welcome back

oh hey, 2 little pink rings that look just small enough for you! wife will be happy ;) glad to see youre back with more less-than-illegal chaos

Been binge watching your channel as I recently found it. You have a bit of an AVE sense of humor. Lovely work!

Welcome back! First time i have been this early too! 😂

Nice too see ya back lol. Totally thaught you got tired of it lol.

Bought one of these (the bigger one shown in this viddy)) almost a year ago to make potassium chlorate; but never got around to it yet. The power supply was my issue. But I can now see that those little wall wart jobbies work just fine in gittin 'er done. Not bad for 48 hours; thought it would also take longer. Like 72-96 hours - closer to 96. Did you also wash and re-crystalize your product? If no; the there were still contaminates - but your experiment proved chlorate in great concentration! That is viable. Glad to see that you are making videos again, as I do watch them. Some more than once - especially synthesizing the silver acetylide. That was fun!

😎 been a while ! Love ya work 👍

Hey! Welcome Back!

I'd try a tungsten welding electrode as a replacement for the cathode rod that died. Tig electrodes com 10 to a pack for about $15-20. I'd avoid the thoriated ones and stick to pure W.

Yep, They do work for making chlorates! Just keep the amps down 1-2 amps

Can the same method be used to make transition and alkali earth metal chlorates?

Might be worth putting a USB meter inline with a working cell to see if it's drawing more than the supply likes. If that's the case then one of those cheap current limited buck converters running off the 12V rail of a computer power supply stepped down to 5V and current limited might be better. It also gives you the option to lower the voltage and set a current limit that won't push the electrodes so hard. Or run it of the computer power supply 5V rail.

Tried the flat ones some weeks ago already and they are great for KClO3 and also they seem to be very durable. However, for better removing of KCl residues I would recommend a one-time recrystallisation of the crystals with some boiling water and you get really ultra pure, flaky Chlorate. Unfortunately I ordered also a round one, before I've seen this video, that could have protected me from buying. Now I know, what to expect from it. Will not use it for ClO3 production. Better use 2 or more of the flat ones same time. Dear Elemental Maker, it would be very nice to see how to make PbO2-Anodes from blanc lead-sheet electrolized in H2SO4, and after that, the production of ClO3 or even ClO4 from it. That's a project I still wanna test. Even if the lead may be not so effective like MMO and maybe the layer won't resist as long, but therefore it's ultra cheap and you can produce big electrodes and use real high current on it, for fast production of oxidizers. I guess that still could be worth a try. :-)

Glad to see you at it again!

i'm looking forward to the primer video and what would be cool is to see a video on smokeless gunpowder so you can produce everything for a bullet at home

I bought this thing the big one in the video, but after 2 days the cathode the stainless steel getting a bit darker (not completely black is like the color of a graphite in the pencil ) but it keep producing chlorate, I think because of the temperature maybe too high i don't know please help me.

I like a lot the way you talk Greeting from Hungary Bánfalva ISU🎉😃👌🏻

Mouse is likely in the basement. Good video.

Could a copper anode and cathode give a more potent antibacterial bleach??

I had a video in the works on these for ages , posted results every so often on the Ex&F subreddit every so often. I got the idea from your last video on them IIRC! The round one you have there is the same as the ones I've been playing with, so far about 6 months runtime (with the occasional day off). Draws about 2A, 5V from a cellphone wallwart kind of power source. Has produced a couple of kilograms of good quality chlorate now. No noticeable issues with the electrodes, maybe some mild wear? I haven't left the electrodes in solution while not running though. My purification process is also pretty lossy, been using NaCl due to cost and then later doing the double-displacement dance with KCl, followed by some recryst. I'll be very interested to see any stuff you have on primer making or DIY percussion caps for BP shooting.

Me: "Heeey! It's a new video from The Elemental Maker!" 3 seconds later... "I just got anticipated."

I think I got my MMO plate from the same guy. Still have it! It was some insane price, like I think I paid $36 for a 12" x 36" sheet. Crazy cheap!

The electrodes will quickly degrade if most of the KCl is used up. Be sure to add KCl to the solution whenever the concentration goes below 10 to 15%. Also, make sure to remove the electrodes from the solution as soon as you switch off power. I am guessing that the one with the round pin finished early and then degraded due to a lack of KCl.

OMG I missed you. I hope everyone is ok.

"Tighter than a nuns ass"...man have I missed your videos! Glad to see you back!

Hey man! Missed your content.

"...ended up in the basement with a ball gag..." 1st thing I thought was "I KNEW IT!"

Holy shit, Batman! He's alive! 🤯 😳 🤘

Could someone recommend a place or website to get decent mmo anodes?

Yeah man been missing your vids

Hey bro good to see you

You wont belive it but I was thinking of useing these for this purpose

I read somewhere that you can make perchlorate from chlorate with acetone or something like that

Oh hi, you're back.

Pretty sure you can make sure these produce chlorate if you get the solution to 60C or higher before starting.

Heeeey! Its my favorite layman chemist! Good to see ya. Hows the home life been treatin' ya?

A little off topic but I snagged a few sheets of titanium wire plate looked about same size holes as your mmo sheet. I am working on trying to make a hho cell and I wanted to try titanium electrodes vs stainless steel. I kinda want to try to make a hydrogen compressor and o2 compressor so I can store both gasses in bottles if I run a diff cell set up to separate them. Then a home made cryo cooler to torn them to liquid. My rocket dreams kinda need little more the composite fuel

For a proper comparison, perhaps you could mix your salt solution separately prior to filling the two beakers with it. That way, you can be certain that the salt concentrations are functionality identical.

Neat!

I am currently running a sodium/potassium chlorate farm. I bought one round one and threw it in a solution of sodium/potassium chloride at 2A 5V with strong stirring. Hope it works fine

What is the white stuff that you extract and mix with sugar? Is that potassium chlorate?

mhh might just have to yoink one of those for myself

I don't know if you know of these two channels both by the same guy but he does some experiments you might like they are Explosions&Fire and Extractions&Ire and yes NurdRage did do a large scale one with an ebay $6 pump which he is still using for vacuum filtration and vacuum distilling.

you are allowed to have some fun with a ball gag if you want, and you dont have to make excuses to us. 🤣 Have fun with the renovations.