LAKE PIGMENT (COCHINEAL)- NEXT STEPS

                      Cochineal Pigment
                        - the next steps.
               By Lady Symonne de la Croix
                               24.3 20

Its the next day:

I couldn't see any pigment at bottom with clearer fluut top which I was expecting. I filtered one of the jars of dye stuff to see. 


Yay some pigment. A very deep colour atm. But not as much pigment as I expect. I will let it dry then mull it before I wash it. This is normally done before it is filtered but as I couldn't see any pigment at bottom so it wasnt an option.


I decided to experiment with the left over cochineal by reheating and adding extra alum and soda which I mixed in hot water. Very pleased that I got more fizz. 

Interesting that one of the dye baths changed to a more pink colour. Unfortunately I didn't keep records of how much of the alum or soda I used.

I decided to filter one lot without letting it settle to see what difference, if any, it would make.

Filtering through 2 coffee filters, I noticed that the liquid was completely clear which is unusual. That didnt happen on the first filtering? 


There is more pigment. 


I filtered some of the pinker solution to see if the water would  come out clear also but surprisingly it didn't? 

I let the other lots settle naturally and am pleased to see the  pigment and separated fluid.
I used turkey baster to remove the clearer water and refilled with water for another wash.
I will do this several times until the top water is clear.
Then I will filter it through coffee filter to get the precipitated pigment.
After that I will let it dry. Then grind it in a mortar and pestle. Followed by lightest testing.
More on how it goes in my next post....

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