Medical sorb versus Dive Sorb questions

Joe Botz

At the Hospital I worked at I got some baralime (xcuse spelling) tested at home and pool used during dives. Worked fine.

Molecular Products Ltd

I have attached a pdf from our technical manager Dr Mike Clark a leading scientist on absorbent technology.

Hope this helps

REgards

Stephen

Attached Images

choosing the right sofnolime.pdf (40.7 KB, 100 views)

tamorgen

I'd love to see an independant chemist compare the two and tell us exactly what the difference is, and not someone from the manufacturer, who has a vested interest in selling us the "diving grade" at a higher markup. Sort of a Consumer Reports for divers. I suspect it has something to do with their liability insurance. They can sell "medical grade" to hospitals, where they know the people using it have their degrees and licenses, where as when they sell it to divers, those using it may or may not have certifications. Last time I checked, you don't need to show a c-card to buy sorb. There is a higher risk in selling it to divers, so they have to sell at a higher markup.

Mark Chase

I am bulk buying sofnalime and getting a deal on a pallet load which is quickley split up between the people I dive with.

As a result a fill cost me £7.00 Ill on average do 120min run time and then bin it. Even if i only do a 90min run I invariably end up binning it unless I have a puddle dive booked in the next day or two.

If I am multi dive daying it in warm water (typical red sea conditions) ill do 4-5 hours on the scrubber ending in max 30-40m diving.

At £7.00 a fill and about £7.00 in trimix 02 and battery cost I realy dont see any need to save a few quid going for cheeper lime. I am already saving over £100's over the cost of OC gas on one dive. Thats more than enough saving to make me not care about a few quid on lime.

The ONLY reasion I would change lime is to a better product. Same with cells batteries or any thing else disposable.

ATB

Mark Chase

__________________
Is it supposed to make that noise ?

I took my unit to the dive shop and demanded they bolt on every thing that would fit.

Join my elite diving teem and get a Tshirt

"Doing It Chasey"Hammerhead Eccr Advanced Diving System

Underwaterbear

I used to dive Medisorb. I would bin it after max 3hrs. I now dive Sofnolime and I bin it after max 5hrs (because that is what the MFG says). I used to pay about $7kg for the medisorb ($2.30 /kg/hr) and now pay about $10 for the sofno ($2.00/kg/hr). So the Sofno works out marginally cheaper and is a much superior product in application - less mess, packs better, and my insurance is valid because it's rated for diving. Maybe I could have pushed the Medi stuff harder ( others have and still do) but why bother.

Andy Del

I used one load of Draegersorb 700, once. The first dive, to about 20m for 30 minuets, was fine. The second dive saw me breathing what I could only describe as very hot gas after only a few minutes! I also had a recent presentation on breakthrough in my mind, where this was mentioned. I just surfaced nad got out of the water.

Needless to say, I binned the load and never used the rest of what I had. It did make an excellent drain cleaner however...

__________________
Yellow - the colour of greatness!

wedivebc

I used medisorb in Mexico due to the fact it was 1/3rd the price of sofnolime. Had no problem diving to manufacturer's limits (3 hrs) .Filled my scrubber before leaving and left the rest to a buddy. After 4 hrs (which I frequently do using sofnolime) in cold water I pulled my scrubber and it was purple right to the top. Felt no ill effects other than shame for being so stupid.

__________________
Cheers,

Dave....

Man is the only animal burdened with the knowledge he will eventually die

schford

Glad you're OK Dave! Could have been a nasty ending!

__________________
Bailout and Kit Management account for Murphy's Law

The only bad question is one you did not ask and later wish you had.

Use of Rebreather World is subject to the Rebreather World Terms & Conditions of Use

Barrie Law

Hi Stephen,

It seems you are damned if you don't and damned if you do when it comes to giving manufacturers recommendations but may I thank you for taking the time to post Dr Mike Clarks explanation of the difference between Medical Grade and Diving Grade Sofnolime.

Regards

__________________
Barrie Law
Rebreather World Store
Supplying the Rebreather World

Tel:US +19548403892 Fax:US+19543333792
Tel:EU+442071930496 Fax:EU+442077606344
Mobile+353876880628 Skype:barrielaw
Email: barrie@rebreatherworldstore.com

Marc T

Looks more to be a declaration than an explanation.
For the colour noticed by the diver its certainly more a problem of increased safety margin in medical grade.
Note that on medical Rebreather the patient is surveyed by blood oxymétrie and the breath rate only depend on the machine so its necessary to be competely sure of the sorb efficiency.
As for diving use, done several dive up to 100m for me and friends nether had prob.
For me its urban legend if not I need a real explanation.