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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Here's a trick to get rid of the taste and color
imparted by using iodine (or chlorine): scrape a very tiny amount (less than 1
gram) of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) into the treated water. Shake. It forms a
complex with the iodine (or chlorine) and instantly removes both color and
flavor imparted by same from the treated water. Note that you will always get
more vitamin C into your water than you really need.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>You may have seen the 2 bottle iodine treatment sets at
REI; that expensive 2nd bottle is powdered vitamin C. You can buy a bottle of
200 Vitamin C tablets for under a dollar at the grocery if you don't already
have some at home. I prefer to carry the elongated solid tablets rather than the
round ones as they are easier to safely shave with my knife, especially if my
fingers are cold. I've tried grinding and powdering tablets at home, but
the results were always too coarse, and the powdered form is susecptible to
caking if it gets moist. Also a spill on the trail looses all whereas spilled
tablets can be picked up and retrieved. Your choice.</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>CAVEATS:</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>1) Do not add the vitamin C until AFTER the iodine (or
chlorine) has had the required contact time to do its job. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>2) When you refill your water container, fill and empty
it 2 - 3 times to remove the unreacted vitamin C BEFORE you
treat new water. Failure to do so will result in the immediate deactivation
of the iodine (or chlorine). </FONT><FONT face=Verdana></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>That said, I switched to Aqua Mira years ago and have
never gone back to iodine. Incidentally, the vitamin C trick does not work
on Aqua Mira or any other Chlorine dioxide system. </FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana>Wandering Bob</FONT></DIV>
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