OCTAPOL®
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OCTAPOL®?
OCTAPOL® is a multi-component chemical reagent developed at Baddley Chemicals Inc. in 1998 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for the clarification of sucrose-containing materials prior to polarimetric analysis. The name was chosen by Baddley Chemicals Inc. based on the number of chemicals in the powdered mixture, and also because of its use in polarization (“pol”) measurements of sucrose-containing samples. Field-testing was carried out in factories and institutes in several countries (USA, Guatemala, Brazil) before being presented for sale in commerce. The name OCTAPOL® and OCTAPOL PLUS® are Registered Trademarks owned by Baddley Chemicals Inc.
What is OCTAPOL RED®?
This reagent is similar to OCTAPOL®, with a slightly slower filtration rate.
Why does the Sugar Industry need another Clarifying Reagent?
Lead Subacetate and other Lead chemicals have worked fine in sugar mills for over a hundred years. Technically speaking, Lead Subacetate is an excellent clarifier for the Sugar Industry. However, because of the dangers that toxic Lead Chemicals pose to (a) the health of the sugar technologists and laboratory personnel (who breathe the lead dust day after day and year after year) and (b) the damage to the environment, many countries now have laws to prohibit and/or discourage lead usage. It is now known that Lead is one of the most hazardous toxic metals because the poison is CUMULATIVE, and its toxic effects are many and severe. Ingesting a small amount of a lead chemical the size of a person’s fingernail can kill. (Since the poison is cumulative, breathing the over a longer period of time can likewise death.) Nausea and vomiting are followed by convulsions, coma, and finally death. Even in small amounts, lead can cause big trouble. The body takes four to six weeks to rid soft body tissues of the metal after it is ingested. It can take up to 30 years for lead to leave the bones. Lead can damage the brain, liver, and kidneys. The symptoms of lead poisoning are many and varied. Lead interferes with the production of red blood cells which leads to anemia. Lead strips the myelin coating from nerves, causing weakness in the hands and feet. Even very tiny amounts can cause high blood pressure.
What is OCTAPOL® used for in a Sugarcane Factory?
It is used for all product streams, including Core Lab Juices, Mill Juice, Clarified Juice and Filtrate, Bagasse, Filter Cake, Syrup, Massecuite, Molasses, and Raw Sugar.
What is OCTAPOL® used for in a Sugar Refinery?
It is used for all liquors, syrups, and molasses samples.
Can OCTAPOL® be used in Sugarbeet Factories?
Yes, it can be used for analysis of various product streams, including High Green, High Raw Pan, High Raw Massecuite, Low Green, Low Raw Pan, High Raw Massecuite, Low Green, Low Raw Pan, and Molasses.
Is OCTAPOL® a single chemical, like Lead Subacetate, or is it a mixture of chemicals?
No, it is not a single chemical. It is a mixture of eight chemicals, each one in the formulation being chosen for a specific purpose.
What is the exact composition of OCTAPOL®?
The information is proprietary.
Are any of the chemicals in OCTAPOL® classified as toxic?
No, none of the chemicals is toxic
What about the pol readings with OCTAPOL®?
ANSWER: Pol readings are very slightly different from those using Lead Subacetate.
Is special equipment required in the laboratory to use OCTAPOL®?
No, the simple pieces of lab equipment used with Lead Subacetate can be used. It should be mentioned, however, that a small hand-held mechanical mixer has been found to give more thorough mixing of the juice sample/clarifier than the procedure that involves the simple manual shaking procedure often used with Lead Subacetate.
How is OCTAPOL® packaged?
It is packaged in a convenient laboratory size of 1.5 kg in a poly bottle. The ACTIVATOR is contained in a small plastic bag hanging in the bottle. After mixing the Activator with the bulk material in the bottle, the resulting quantity of 1500 grams is enough clarifier to use for 200 to 300 juice tests. (The quantity required for one test depends of course on the type of sugar-bearing material being tested, juice quality, etc. However, one can assume that approximately 5 to 10 grams of OCTAPOL® will be required per test).
How may OCTAPOL® be purchased?
Baddley Chemicals has contractual arrangements (both EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORSHIPS and NON-EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTORSHIPS) in several countries. If the OCTAPOL® is to be used in a sugar facility in any of these countries, the distributor should be contacted. In countries with no OCTAPOL® distributor, you may order directly from Baddley Chemicals Inc., and the product will be shipped to you from our factory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. (CALL 225-293-5633, FAX 225-293-5635, EMAIL baddleychem@yahoo.com). If you need information regarding availability of a distributor in your country, we can supply that information.
Can OCTAPOL® be purchased through one of the large, international Laboratory supply companies?
Perhaps. For example, Fisher Scientific supplies hundreds of thousands of items to its customers in approximately 150 countries. Consult the Fisher Scientific Catalog, or fisher.com for information.
What is the shelf life of OCTAPOL®?
OCTAPOL® is shipped in an unactivated state. In this unactivated state, is is stable for at least five years (but it must be protected from moisture because moisture causes the product to deteriorate). Prior to use, OCTAPOL® must be activated. After activation, it should be used within a few days if possible, and preferably before 30 days. The reason for this is that the clarifying ability of the activated mixture deteriorated with time.
Are Certificates of Analysis available for each Lot?
Yes, on request. Click HERE to request.
Are Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available?
Yes, on request. Click HERE to request.
Are samples of OCTAPOL® available?
Yes, we will provide a single 1.5 kg bottle of OCTAPOL® at no charge. However, since most Sugar facilities are located internationally, we request that the shipping charge be paid with Credit Card by the requestor prior to shipment. Click HERE to request a sample.
What about your Warranty?
Effective Date of this Warranty: June 1, 1988
Addendum to this Warranty: April 8, 2020
Baddley Chemicals, Inc. warrants that its products conform, on the day of shipment, to our specifications in effect at the time of manufacture. The warranty is limited to the refund of purchase price. This warranty is exclusive and Baddley Chemicals, Inc. makes no warranty that the products are merchantable or fit for a particular purpose, nor is there any other warranty expressed or implied.
ADDENDUM: Warranties, Liability and Remedies (April 8, 2020)
Baddley Chemicals, Inc (Seller) warrants that its products will correspond (within tolerances specifically stated or established by usage or trade custom) with the specifications set forth in the Certificate of Analysis for the particular lot.
The above warranty is given by Seller and subject to the following Conditions:
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Seller shall have no liability in respect of any defect in its products arising from any drawing, design or specification supplied by the Buyer;
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Seller shall have no liability in respect of any defect arising from willful damage, negligence, failure to follow Seller's instructions (whether oral or in writing), misuse or alteration of its products without Seller's approval;
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Seller shall have no liability under the above warranty (or any other warranty, condition or guarantee) if the total price for the products has not been paid by the due date for payment;
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the above warranty does not extend to any technical advice or recommendation provided by Seller to Buyer as to the storage, application or use of the products, whether provided verbally or in writing; and
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the above warranty does not extend to parts or materials not manufactured by Seller, in which case Buyer shall only be entitled to the benefit of any such warranty or guarantee as is given by the manufacturer to Seller.
Subject to these Conditions, all warranties, conditions or other terms implied by statute or common law are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. Where any valid claim in respect of any of the products which is based on any defect in the quality or condition of the products or their failure to meet the specifications set forth on the technical data sheet shipped with the product is made to Seller in writing, Seller shall, at its sole discretion, replace the products (or the part in question) free of charge or refund to Buyer the price of the products (or a proportionate part of the price, as applicable); however, Seller shall have no further liability to Buyer. All information contained in the technical data sheet is based on data believed to be reliable but, Seller makes no warranties, express or implied as to its accuracy and assumes no liability arising out of its use.