Homemade alternative to Polar Pure

[LeeAllure]

When I went looking for ways to purify water on the trail, I was immediately drawn to the Polar Pure solution. I didn't want to have to carry a filter, a steripen which might break or to restock tablets or drops every week or so. When I finally went to purchase it, however, all the places I could find locally or online were out.

After some thought and research, I decided that I could probably make it myself, although there were some hoops to jump through, including providing a lot of information about who I was and why I wanted it to the iodine purveyor.

I finally found the time last night to put it all together, and woke this morning to my first batch of crystals, which I thought I'd share. From the looks of it, I'll have enough to provide me with potable water for a very long time.

I'm planning on putting the right amount of crystals (between 4-8g, approx. 1tsp) into a silk tea-bag like holder in an amber 2oz bottle, and following the polar pure instructions for treating trail water.

IodineCrystals1.jpg

Seeing the blue/grey crystals on top of the plastic wrap this morning, glinting in the sun, was kind of thrilling, knowing the experiment worked.

I still think it's silly for me (or others like me) to go around making this in small batches, when it's easier and faster to have a company like polar pure do it so well, but I'm glad it was doable.

[WIAPilot]

Pretty cool. You must have grown up watching MacGyver.

[Spokes]

Isn't this how Snake Oil Salesmen got started?

[rocketsocks]

Ah,a little crystal blue persuasion eh

[Odd Man Out]

Just be aware of the hazzards. I2 is potentially nasty stuff.

From the CDC (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/water-treatment.htm). The last one about not using for continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time would be troublesome for a thru hiker.
Warnings

• Crystalline iodine 4-8 grams used in a stock solution constitutes a human lethal dose if accidentally swallowed in a single dose. Keep out of the reach of children.
• Water that has been disinfected with iodine is NOT recommended for pregnant women, people with thyroid problems, those with known hypersensitivity to iodine, or continuous use for more than a few weeks at a time.

[Spokes]

Just be aware of the hazzards. I2 is potentially nasty stuff.
......

I agree. Why waste your time on it? Much better spending your time building alchy stoves or trying to get your pack weight down.

[Capt Nat]

Sorry Mr. Rocketsocks, most are too young to have gotten that!

[LeeAllure]

I grew up without a television, but have watched a MacGyver episode or two.

Don't worry - I'm only going to add the saturated water to my lightly filtered drinking water.
The crystals themselves will remain in the bottle, in their own nice and neat special silk bag.
I don't mind the taste of iodine in the water, and have vit. c to add, in case I get sick of it.

I'll leave crystal blue persuasion to others, but I do like the song..

[Velvet Gooch]

Extracted from drugstore tincture of iodine (not PVP-I)? The procedure is fairly straightforward. Getting the tincture of iodine is the real challenge, now.