Dear Steve,

        We have recently purchased (December, 1997) and used BrF5 from
Wuhan International.  After some initial clean-up in our laboratory, and a
small problem with leaky valve, the results have been excellent.

        This contrasts with the situation concerning Ozark Mahoning.  I'm
afraid to admit that our laboratory is the one who has caused Ozark
Mahoning to withdraw their product.  We tried very hard to work with Ozark
Mahoning for more than one year to isolate the problems that have developed
with their reagent, and the Ozark Mahoning staff from Oklahoma were
extremely helpful.  In the end, however, after several trips of BRF5 tanks
back and forth across the Canada-US border (and associated charges!), we
mutually agreed to give up, and accept a refund from them.  However, Ozark
Mahoning misplaced the cylinders returned to them, and the resulting
confusion has turned into a nightmare for us. The end result is that Ozark
Mahoning's parent company (in Philadelphia), and their corporate credit
personnel in particular (who shall remain nameless for now), has
steadfastly refused to provide our refund.  Somehow as the replacement
tanks went back and forth, they (or their computer) got the idea that we
owed them even more money!  We are in the second year now of trying to
receive our refund, with no end in sight in the battle with the parent
company.  It's too bad, as I say, give the local co-operation that we
received from Oklahoma.  In fairness to them, if this situation does get
resolved honourably, I shall let the news group know.

        To summarize our experience, take a chance on Wuhan International,
but steer clear of Ozark Mahoning.

Fred Longstaffe



 =============================================================================
Fred J. Longstaffe                      ph:  519-661-3177
Department of Earth Sciences            fax:  519-661-3198
University of Western Ontario           e-mail:  [log in to unmask]

London, Ontario N6A 5B7