That was so interesting, it looks like fun bucket chemistry with a gorgeous result in the blue wool. Want to try it, have never seen woad in Australia but you never know..thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I suspect Woad is on the Australian banned list as it is very invasive in hot dry climates. There are plenty of indigo bearing plants in Australia the most common are Indigofera species including native to Australia Indigofera australis. You might try looking up a guy called John Walker who grows these plants. Not sure what state he lives in though.
hey friend, what's the difference between hot and cold extraction process? what we add from the bottle is lime (lime)? and will this process produce indigo paste?
Hi Connie. Yes we do use ammonia as an alkali to speed up the conversion of precursor chemicals to indigo otherwise it would take a long time (and effort) to airate. The reason we use ammonia rather than lime is it does not leave any contaminating calcium carbonate in the indigo extract as lime does.
Hi Caroline The exact quantity of water to add is not essential. Simply add enough to just cover the leaves when they are weighted down. Adding the ammonia partly depends on its strength which varies according to manufacture however as a broad rule of thumb about 5 tablespoons per 1.5 to 2kg of leaves. If you can measure the pH (which is the important bit) enough ammonia or other alkali to bring the extract to around pH10.
That was so interesting, it looks like fun bucket chemistry with a gorgeous result in the blue wool. Want to try it, have never seen woad in Australia but you never know..thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I suspect Woad is on the Australian banned list as it is very invasive in hot dry climates. There are plenty of indigo bearing plants in Australia the most common are Indigofera species including native to Australia Indigofera australis. You might try looking up a guy called John Walker who grows these plants. Not sure what state he lives in though.
hey friend, what's the difference between hot and cold extraction process?
what we add from the bottle is lime (lime)?
and will this process produce indigo paste?
Did you add a splash of ammonia?
Hi Connie. Yes we do use ammonia as an alkali to speed up the conversion of precursor chemicals to indigo otherwise it would take a long time (and effort) to airate.
The reason we use ammonia rather than lime is it does not leave any contaminating calcium carbonate in the indigo extract as lime does.
What add from the bottle?
Ammonia, dog and cat piss
I know you mentioned the weight of leaves but can you please tell me how many litres of hot water you added and how much ammonia? Thank you
Hi Caroline
The exact quantity of water to add is not essential. Simply add enough to just cover the leaves when they are weighted down.
Adding the ammonia partly depends on its strength which varies according to manufacture however as a broad rule of thumb about 5 tablespoons per 1.5 to 2kg of leaves. If you can measure the pH (which is the important bit) enough ammonia or other alkali to bring the extract to around pH10.
Thank you 🙏
What is the plant Leave?
Isatis tinctiora
Dyers woad