Reg Whelan's Information

What say we start with what is a colloid?

A Colloid is a solution that contains fine suspended particles. Muddy water is a colloid. But like a lot of colloids when it is allowed to stand undisturbed the suspended particles deposit on the bottom of the container while the water above becomes clear. The mud is large particles and settles out of the solution. Fine particles in this example will remain in suspension and the water will remain discoloured for a much longer period. If this water is filtered then the water will become clear.

If you can imagine the size of those fine particles of mud You realize that we are talking about a measurement that is very small. It is very likely that those mud particles were made up of more than one molecule of material or materials. Now try to imagine the size of the particles if they just happened to be made up of single molecules. Molecules are usually a compound of perhaps several atoms of minerals and gases. Thinking about the size of a single atom is starting to get so small that we have difficulty describing the size of it at all.

Science has measured the size of atoms and uses a special measurement scale. We can use the scale to compare the size of one against the size of another. We don't need to go that deep in measuring but we need to understand that an atom of Silver is extremely small. If we take atoms of silver and add them to water we have a Colloid. These atoms will not remain in suspension and the solution will need to be agitated to keep the atoms in suspension. When I talk about Colloidal Silver, I mean electrically produced Colloidal Silver. I do not refer to an electrically produced colloidal silver in which Sodium chloride or any other material, has been added to activate the electrical process.

In the electrically produced Colloidal Silver I use, the water is demineralized or distilled water. Two Fine Silver, 999, not Sterling Silver or any other Silver, electrodes are suspended in the solution and a DC electrical source is connected to the electrodes. The conductivity of the water is quite low. That means that only a small amount of electricity will flow in the water. When this current flows Ions of Silver are formed and they become suspended in the water. Now an atom was small. Well an ion of Silver is an atom of Silver minus an electron. In case you may have forgotten electrons flowing through conductive material is electricity. Anyway what we now have is a particle that is minutely smaller than an atom.

Because an Ion is an atom minus an electron it is a positively charged particle suspended in the water. When there are many of these Ions suspended in the water they tend to repel each other if they get near. When the Colloidal Silver is made these repelling or bouncing particles remain in suspension. Because the ions repel each other they become evenly suspended throughout the colloid. In scientific experiments ions can remain in suspension indefinitely.

Exposure to magnetic or electromagnetic fields may supply an electron to the ions making Silver atoms that would settle out of the colloidal suspension. Exposure to sunlight and natural radiation may do the same. So our Colloidal Silver may have a useful lifespan. Under most circumstances we will use our colloids before the Ions precipitate. What the heck if we make it ourselves the cost is so low that we can replace any that we are worried may become unusable. I estimate less than 50 cents per litre. Generally when Colloidal Silver is made this way the colloid will be clear. It might have up to 10 parts per million of the silver ions.

It appears that 10ppm appears to be a limit that may not be able to be exceeded. I have made colloids that have coloured yellowish to smoky after excessive times. This colouring might be because oxygen and nitrogen have combined. I deliberately made colloids to this colour for soaking wound areas and for wound dressings. I used the clear material for consumption purposes. Other colloids of silver have been made using compounds of Silver and it was these compounds that were used prior to about 1939 when antibiotics were first introduced to mainline medicine.

A side effect of the administration of these compounds many people had their skin turn blue. This blue condition is a cosmetic effect and is in no way debilitating. Today there are still people offering suspensions of silver compounds for sale as Colloidal Silver. I would be vary wary of these materials. It is also known that, if the colloidal silver is started with salt, or if the water is not distilled, or demineralized that the user's skin may also turn blue. I have been reading lately that bluing of the skin may be reversible.

Most Commercial supplies of Colloidal Silver seem to be in the range of from 5 to 10 ppm. I haven't read anything that might suggest that one is better than another. No one should make any claim that Colloidal Silver has any Medicinal Qualities but The FDA has approved Colloidal Silver for use commercially as a disinfectant. Silver is now used in wound dressings bandages and as a deodorant.

Instructions for a basic Colloidal Silver Generator can be found here

Best wishes

Reg Whelan