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Comparison Guide:  Dye:Mordant Ratios

for Aluminum Hematoxylin Formulations

The chart below compares the ratio of mordant to dye in aluminum hematoxylin formulae. Weights are in grams, ratios are number:1. Immediately following the chart is the information on which the calculations were based. Slight discrepancies in the figures are due to rounding.

Note: Ehrlich’s formula specifies saturation of the solvent with potassium alum. The solvent is an equal parts mixture of water, glycerol and ethanol with a small amount of acetic acid. Potassium alum saturates in water at just under 14% and is freely soluble in glycerol, but the amount the solvent mixture dissolves is not given. The amount of potassium alum listed for Ehrlich’s formula is an estimate and is not based on any information

FormulationDye to Mordant RatioDye Amount (g)Mordant (Aluminum Source)AluminumRatio N:A
SourceAmount (g)Amount Need for 1:1 Dye:Mordant Ratio (g)Amount Available in Mordant (g)
Anderson 1923a82.5Ammonium Alum200.221.195.3
Anderson 1923b502.5Ammonium Alum1250.227.4433.1
Anderson 192965Ammonium Alum300.451.794
Apathy103Ammonium Alum300.271.796.6
Baker Hematal-88.40.94Aluminum Sulphate80.081.2414.7
Baker Hematal-1616.80.47Aluminum Sulphate80.041.2429.4
Bencosme67.52Potassium Alum1330.187.5742.1
Bennett901Potassium Alum900.095.1257
Bosma102.5Ammonium Alum250.221.496.6
Bullard2.58Ammonium Alum600.723.574.95
Carazzi501Potassium Alum500.092.8431.6
Cole 190316Ammonium Alum60.540.360.7
Cole 194366.71.5Ammonium Alum1000.135.9544.2
Debiden205Potassium Alum1000.455.6912.7
de Groot112Ammonium Alum220.181.317.3
Delafield156Ammonium Alum900.545.369.9
Ehrlich8.36Potassium Alum500.542.845.3
Friedlander16Potassium Alum60.540.340.6
Gadsdon10.95.5Potassium Alum600.493.416.9
Gage401Potassium Alum400.092.2825.3
Galigher0.65Ammonium Alum30.450.180.4
Garvey182.5Potassium Alum450.222.5611.4
Gill I8.82Aluminum Sulphate180.182.7815.4
Gill III17.64Aluminum Sulphate700.3611.130.9
Gill III26.46Aluminum Sulphate1580.5424.9846.3
Graham12.52Aluminum Sulphate250.183.9421.9
Hamilton37.52Ammonium Alum750.184.4624.8
Harris205Potassium Alum1000.455.6912.6
Harris & Power320Potassium Alum601.83.411.9
Haug0.95.5Aluminum acetate50.490.961.9
Hine3.81Aluminum Sulphate40.090.596.6
Horneyold0.58.4Ammonium Alum40.750.250.3
Krutsay501Potassium Alum500.092.8431.6
Langeron 192412.54Ammonium Alum500.362.847.9
Langeron 1942501Potassium Alum500.092.8431.6
Launoy0.510Potassium Alum50.90.790.9
Lee501Ammonium Alum500.092.9833.1
Lillie105Ammonium Alum500.452.986.6
McLachlan var I8.82Aluminum Sulphate17.50.182.7615.4
McLachlan var II12.52Ammonium Alum250.181.498.3
Mallory202.5Potassium Alum500.222.8412.7
Mallory & Wright1401Ammonium Alum1400.098.3392.7
Mann5.86Potassium Alum350.541.993.7
Martinotti7.52Potassium Alum150.180.895
Masson320Potassium Alum601.83.411.9
Mayer 1891, 1903501Ammonium Alum500.092.9833.1
Mayer 1901501Potassium Alum500.092.8431.6
Mayer 189612.54Ammonium Alum500.362.988.3
Molnar I510Ammonium or potassium alum500.92.98 or 2.853.3 or 3.2
Molnar II12.54Ammonium or potassium alum500.362.98 or 2.858.3 or 7.9
Papamiltiades2.54Aluminum Sulphate100.361.584.4
Pusey37.51.6Ammonium Alum600.143.5724.8
Rawitz 1895a110Potassium Alum100.90.570.6
Rawitz 1895b62.5Ammonium Alum150.220.894
Rawitz 1909102Aluminum nitrate200.181.448
Reddy9.46.4Ammonium Alum600.583.576.2
Sass var I1410Ammonium Alum1400.98.339.3
Sass var II501Ammonium Alum500.092.9833.1
Schmorl205Ammonium Alum1000.455.9513.2
Scott73Potassium Alum210.271.194.4
Slidders1001Potassium Alum1000.095.6963.3
Unna46.73Ammonium Alum1400.278.3330.9
Watson16Ammonium Alum60.540.360.7