[at-l] Re: Vitamin C Precipitating Iodine -- was Filter or iodine for 6-day trip (TN-VA)

[David Hicks" <daveh@usit.net (David Hicks)]

I have always filtered (w/ Potable Aqua as backup), but am thinking about
switching to Potable Aqua only.

A while back there was discussion on one of the list about the question of
vitamin C precipitating iodine out of the solution.

As I remember it a few folk advised that if you treated water in the same
container that had held "neutralized" water (or where water had been
"favored" with vitamin C mixes), the residual vitamin C could precipitate
the iodine out of the solution before the water was safe.

Anyone know if this is true/ reasonable?

They recommended using two bottles -- one to treat water in and one to drink
out of.  IMHO -- It seemed that this approach suggests added advantages --
1) that you were less likely to drink before the recommended exposure time
has been reached, as you would be carrying water in the treatment bottle
while you were drinking from the drinking bottle; and 2) you were more
likely to top off/refill, if you did not need to empty your only bottle
before refilling, treating, waiting, etc.

Any thoughts?

Chainsaw

----- Original Message -----
From: <terry_norton@iname.com>
To: <discndog@bellsouth.net>
Cc: <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: [at-l] Filter or iodine for 6-day trip (TN-VA)


SNIP
> Wal-mart carries the basic Potable Aqua tablets for $2.96 here in
Colorado.  The neutralizer tablets in the PA+ kit are nothing more than
vitamin C which will precipitate the iodine out of the solution.  You can
use a small portion of a vitamin c tablet to do the same thing.  THIS SHOULD
ONLY BE DONE AFTER THE FULL 20-30 MINUTE EXPOSURE TIME FOR IODINE.
>
> WARNING:  Drink mixes should not be added to iodine or chlorine/bleach
treated water until the recommended exposure time has been reached.
Kool-Aid and many other mixes contain Vitamin C, thus they immediately
neutralize the iodine when added.
>
SNIP