Title says it all. Is it okay to use calcium hydroxide (anhydrous pickling lime) for the sodium carbonate wash?
I have like a pound of the shit, and I know it's as strong, if not stronger a base than NaCarb.

I'm not sure that caclium hydroxide is soluble enough in water to work for this application. Also you want the washing solution to be only slightly alkaline, which is easier to do with sodium carbonate.

Well my PUR tap water is slightly basic. I've pH tested it and it turned the strip a greenish blue. So that puts it about 8.
It's also soft water, filtered constantly through salt.

Does the water need to be warm or cold?

If you're using it for a wash then you should probably use heated water so that the naptha stays warm for solubility.

EDIT: Wasn't aware of that infundibulum.

To the op:
Yes, calcium hydroxide is fine to use instead of sodium carbonate for a wash as you suggest. Calcium hydroxide is not very water-soluble, but what dissolves will easilyraise ph to 13ish. Just dump an amount of calcium hydroxide in water, let whatever does not dissolve settle, decant and use.



ph is strongly influenced by temperature. The ph of a soluton will be lower at highet temperatures and vice versa.