polyquat shelf life

[prh129]

Does anyone know if polyquat degrades significantly over a couple of years? Is it worth buying a gallon at a cheaper price to use over several seasons or is it better to buy what I need for this season only?

Thanks

Peter

[cynlys]

Sorry, I can't help with the answer but it seemed like you, unlike myself, know what Polyquat is. One of the moderators mentioned that it was the only algacide they recommended but I can't find it. Is polyquat 60 a componant of most algacide or are there specific brand names. Any help would be appreciated

[waterbear]

phr129,
I believe that polyquat 60 should remain in good condition for a while. Store it in a cool location out of the sun. Heat and sunlight are what degrade most pools chemicals, sometimes slowly, somtimes (as with chlorine), fast.

cynlys,
polyquat 60 is the recommeneded algaecide. It is not a brand name but the common name of the active ingredient. Look on the label for poly [oxyethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride] and check out this page on PoolSolutions for more info:
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/polyquat.html

Also, HTH is no longer selling polyquat so you will not find the product that is illustrated in the picture on that page!

[PhantomAndy]

Timely thread for me,

I just bought a gallon of 60 percent from Leslies. I won't use it all this season, so I was curious about this as well.

I couldn't resist buying a whole gallon, it was a huge savings (came out to about $13/quart. It's still on sale on their website if you need to pick some up - I think instore will usually honor the website prices.

[chem geek]

The official word I just got from Buckman Laboratories that make the PolyQuat sold in the U.S. is as follows:

PolyQuat is a biocide that is registered with the USEPA; and, as such, it will have a specific guaranteed shelf life. The shelf life (which may or may not be printed on the label) is one year. In general, registered biocides are assumed to have a one-year shelf life unless the label states otherwise. While the compound itself is very stable and is not expected to decompose upon storage, we cannot guarantee it beyond the stated one-year shelf life (due to legal and regulatory considerations).

In other words, it is "guaranteed" to last one year, but it's a stable compound so would presumably last longer. How long -- well, who knows. And be sure to check the label to see if it states otherwise (i.e. a shorter shelf-life).

Richard

[waterbear]

Is that one year from date of manufacture or one year after openeing since shelf life is often defined as from one of these events? If it is one year after date of manufacture than it is possible to purchase a product that has expired because it is not uncommom for products to sit ih supplier's warehouses for quite a while before making it into a store's inventory and the product might also sit in a retails store's warehouse before making it onto the shelf (not to mention how long it might sit on the shelf before it is sold!)