Recycling Coffee machine Descale Powder
I have a question regarding technical chemistry.
I own several Printers (MK3, P1S, Mini) along with the corresponding filaments. Additionally, I have a coffee machine, and the water in my area is as hard as steelnozzels.
As a result, I descale my coffee machine every 6 weeks and replace the water filter. Being eco-conscious and frugal, I purchased a refillable descaling filter with granules. However, I’m not entirely sure what these granules contain—possibly silica or something similar? The product link is here, but the information isn’t clear. https://www.ebay.de/itm/255355308233
My question is: If I let the old, calcified granules dry, could I use them to extend my silica beads and also use them to dry my 3D printing filament? Or am I mistaken because they serve a different purpose?
Additional context: My primary concern is whether I can use the powder I already have to keep my filament dry, similar to using silica beads. The large surface area of the granules makes them effective for drying, even though it takes quite a while. I’m not drying the filament for recycling purposes; instead, I use it to add weight to 3D prints or give a nice effect to resin coatings (using Smooth-On 3D for smoothing). My coffee machine (Dinamica Plus ECAM382.70.B) reminds me to descale it regularly due to the hard water setting. I usually use cheap descaler from Aldi or citric acid from a liter bottle (the inexpensive Surig brand, as vinegar’s strong smell bothers me, and citric acid can form insoluble carbonates under high heat). I’ve learned that I don’t need to reorder the granules. PS: My roommate has an Amway water filter (E-Spring) that doesn’t remove calcium. In my opinion, water filters (except for the lime) are unnecessary, as tap water in Germany is of excellent quality and doesn’t require filtration. I’m aware that water filters can be breeding grounds for bacteria. With the cartridge filters, at least fresh water flows through regularly, and I replace the granules as needed, which I might not have to do in the future.
RE: Recycling Coffee machine Descale Powder
Why do you need to "extend" silica beads? If you can dry these mystery granules, you can dry actual desiccant.
But anyway, these are likely an ion exchange resin. They are something fundamentally different from desiccant.
I do not know what you're trying to ask about the descale powder or what any of this has to do with adding weight to 3D prints or doing anything with resin coatings.
RE: Recycling Coffee machine Descale Powder
The plan was to obtain more desiccant for all my filaments. I wondered if it might be possible to repurpose the powder from my coffee machine (which resembles some kind of resin) to absorb air humidity, similar to silica beads.
I decided to test it by microwaving the powder. On one hand, this worked well because I could remove a significant amount of hot liquid water from it, making it suitable for its intended purpose. On the other hand, microwaving small coal shreds isn’t advisable—it creates fancy lightning effects, but luckily, the microwave survived the experiment!
Apart from that, I occasionally use this powder for other purposes, treating it like regular sand.
RE: Recycling Coffee machine Descale Powder
Its intended purpose is softening water, with the charcoal deodorizing it and removing off tastes. This involves being saturated with water, and it's not surprising it retains a significant amount. It doesn't mean it's great at pulling humidity out of the air, and it probably isn't. Drying it isn't especially useful, you might be able to partially regenerate it by soaking it in brine to replace the absorbed calcium/magnesium ions with sodium ones. Reactivating the activated carbon involves conditions the resin won't survive.
Just buy a few pounds of silica dessicant off Amazon or eBay or something. I put it in small cotton bags, which are more resilient than the usual packets.
RE: Recycling Coffee machine Descale Powder
I second what cjameshuff wrote.
For decalcination you may want to use amidosulfonic acid (Amidosulfonsäure). You can get the pure powder in kilograms very cheap. Two teaspoons in a 1,5l warm water bottle will do the trick. This acid is contained in many high priced descalers and does not smell at all. I have used it in my Jura for 10 years and she will live 10 more with it 😉
Printing PLA and PETG at the same time? See the Guide for MultiMaterialSupports ----- Ejecting Buffer cassettes is not satisfying? May the Fork be with you!