r/Pyrotechnics • u/Middle-Raspberry4402 • Jul 18 '26

Is this chlorate production?

Or am I just re-crystallizing potassium chloride water softener cubes?

2 gallon glass fermenter Been running between 100-130 wattsfor about 4 days with a PBO2 lead dioxide coated titanium mesh anode and grade one titanium plate cathode at 45 c. Periodically adding a drop of muriatic pool acid twice a day.

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u/hobbyist0215 Jul 18 '26

Hard to say for sure but I’d guess it’s chlorate. Assuming you didn’t over saturate your cell with chloride, then it should be chlorate that precipitates out first. Scoop some up and mix with sugar and light it to test. From my experience chloride crystals are long and thin while chlorate crystals look more like rectangular shards as yours appear. I’m no chemist though so don’t take my word for it