Dear Pier and other interested parties,

Ascarite is the registered trade mark of an agent "for the absorption
of acidic gases". One kg of ascarite absorbs about 200 -300 g of
carbon dioxide. You can still by the stuff under its name from Fluka.

Stripped of its posh name it turns out to be humble sodium hydroxide
on asbestos.

Speaking of names, in some of the more vintage papers you will also
find mentioned a water trapping agent name of Dehydrite. This is
nothing but magnesium perchlorate.


Best wishes,

                             Wolfram



*****************************************************
Dr. W. Meier-Augenstein, CChem MRSC
Lecturer/Research Fellow

University of Dundee, Dept. of Anatomy & Physiology,
Small's Wynd, DUNDEE  DD1 4HN, United Kingdom

Tel.: +44-(0)1382-34/5124, /4968

Fax:  +44-(0)1382-34/5514

e-mail: [log in to unmask]

URL: http://www.dundee.ac.uk/anatphys/wma/wolfram.htm
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