iron-polyphenol complex

Ingredients

gallnuts, water, qalqant (crushed vitriol), gum arabic

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

Take the desired quantity of gallnuts and grind them as fine as the powder of antimony. Pour water over it and grind vigorously in a mortar until it forms a foam; then filter the mixture in a thick piece of cloth into another container and add enough crushed qalqant to it: you will see that the mixture will turn black. Then add some gum arabic and write instantly. (p. 8). Reproduction: 3.5 g of galls ground fine, added to 50 mL water, beaten until foam, filtered, 3.5 g of iron sulfate added, and then gum arabic (3.5 g in 17.5 mL). (p. 12).

Evidence

"QI.11. Instantaneous midād by al-Rāzī: Take the desired quantity of gallnuts and grind them as fine as the powder of antimony. Pour water over it and grind vigorously in a mortar until it forms a foam; then filter the mixture in a thick piece of cloth into another container and add enough crushed qalqant to it"

Remarks

Unique as it does not require boiling or long infusion, relying on the high surface area of fine powder and mechanical agitation (foaming). (p. 4, 8).