Griffin Dyeworks & Fiber Arts

Understanding Mordants and Modifiers

Uric Acid

URIC ACID: C5H4N4O

Description: Natural body fluid with 4.8-8.4 pH, depending on strength.
Other Names: Musketeer's Perfume and a number of other euphemisms. Also called "Sig" or "Old Sig" after the devil due to the horrific odor and volatile gas during fermentation.
Dye Use: Alkali modifier, used in ancient dyeing to pre-mordant cotton, activate water-insoluble indigo, set color with urine vapors.
Best On: Cellulose fibers
Dye Recipe: Use as directed in old indigo vat recipes
Safety: None unless donor has physical problems
Disposal: Down the toilet
Alternative: Urea, ammonia, soda ash
Source: Best urine was supposedly from virgins, small boys, or dogs; imagine following Fido around with a cup! Color affected if donor is medicated or takes many vitamins.

CODES: c = cup; gal = gallon; lb = pound (weight); tbsp = Tablespoon; tsp = teaspoon / [AF] Anglo-French; [Ar] Arabic; [AS] Anglo-Saxon; [Dan] Danish; [Du] Dutch; [Fr] French; [Ger] German; [Gk] Greek; [It] Italian; [L] Classical Latin; [LL] Late Latin; [ME] Middle English; [ML] Modern Latin; [OE] Old English; [OF] Old French; [ON] Old Norse; [OS] Old Saxon; [Port] Portuguese; [Sp] Spanish; [Sw] Swedish / CE = Common Era; BCE = Before Common Era

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