Question 1

Can potassium carbonate be used instead of salt, to generate KOH degreaser?

Accepted Answer

I don’t think so. The oxidation number in oxygen stays as 2-, and carbon doesn’t readily oxidize like Cl does. Prolly be easier to just buy some KOH at the hardware store.

Question 2

Do the test papers test chlorine in general, or specific to hypochlorite?

Accepted Answer

Hi, the test paper can be used to test various chlorine-containing disinfectants, not specific for hypochlorite.

Question 3

If I made one batch as per instructions (100ML tapwater/2gms salt (1 measuring spoon salt)) how much of this solution to disinfect mt. stream water ?

Accepted Answer

Food for thought.
First, there is no standard purity of stream water, so any dilution you make needs to be tailored to the conditions.  Water has the uncanny characteristic of appearing clear, until it is put into a clean Styrofoam cup.  A friend of mine and I were hiking and came across an old hand pump and the water appeared clear coming out of the pump.  He started to drink from it and i stopped him in time.  I advised him it was unwise, and to use the water he was carrying and that we would make a point to come back with a white Styrofoam cup.  Once in the cup it scared him really bad.  He learned a valuable lesson.  I also have a portable microscope.  When he saw the bugs swimming in river water he wanted to throw up.  The point is that water sources are different, even mountain streams.  Some bubble out of the ground, some are a branch from a river, some have waste-water from locals, some have beavers, and some have contaminated water flowing in from a tributary upstream.  
Bringing all this up for you and others to think about how important water is, and how many things influence it.  It is important to look past the simple chlorine and iodine chemical disinfectants and boiling will set off the dissolved VOCs in it.  Much to learn for sure.
It is necessary to weigh the salt to be exact and sure.
1 teaspoon liquid = 5grams distilled water, or 5cc.
1 teaspoon of salt may be different.
Also, as the other answer said, this area may not be the best place to get a good answer.
As a general rule of thumb with chlorine mixtures is that if you smell it strongly it is definitely too strong for sure.  If you can smell it at all it, may be too strong.  If you can barely smell it after an hour or so, that is what you want.  Since everybody's sniffer is different, that plays a role too.
It will evaporate into the atmosphere and will have done it's job if it is a little strong, and you have the time to allow it to diminish.
Think of a swimming pool and how strong the odor is.  Kids drink it and seem to do okay.  Don't know about long-term damage though.  The point of this is that a pool smells strong, and nobody in their right mind would drink from it unless it was a dire emergency, and only enough to wet their whistle.

Question 4

What is the maximum concentration this can make of sodium hypochlorite?

Accepted Answer

2.2 grams of salt per liter of water with one teaspoon of white vinegar would make 220 ppm which is recommended concentration.

Manufacturer	SZJH
Part number	PW-XSS-CL
Item Weight	22.7 g
Product Dimensions	4.57 x 2.54 x 1.27 cm; 22.68 g
Item model number	PWPAM Sodium Hypochlorite Generator
Size	1 Count (Pack of 1)
Color	Green
Material	Titanium ABS
Power source type	Electric Powered
Voltage	5 Volts
Wattage	1E+1
Special Features	Portable, Lightweight
Included components	Charging Cable
Batteries Included?	No
Batteries Required?	No

PWPAM Sodium Hypochlorite Generator Multi-Purpose Cleaning Supplies Generator, Chlorine Testing Strips Included

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