[chickapow]

I'm trying to adapt a method from an old chemistry textbook and it says to add 'one Whatman "accelerator" and stir.'

Whatman has now been absorbed by GE so I couldn't find much information about any of their old products, apart from the filter papers.

Is there a modern equivalent to this?

[Arkcon]

Some more context would be useful.  Is it an additive, like maybe its something like Celite to facilitate filtration?  Or is it a device?

[chickapow]

Some more context would be useful.

It's being used in a reaction involving the removal of Tin from Brass, (dissolved in Nitric Acid). It has been added after dissolving the brass in the nitric acid, and the steps immediately following are stirring the solution, then filtering.

[Arkcon]

Give us the exact words please.  Seems like its an additive, like Celite.

[chickapow]

Give us the exact words please.

"The evaporation should require at least an hour to ensure that all the stannic acid has precipitated; longer digestion does no harm. Dilute to 50ml, and heat on the water bath for 10-20 minutes in order that all soluble salts may dissolve. Then add one Whatman 'accelerator' and stir. Filter hot through a small Whatman No. 42 or 542 filter paper, and collect the filtrate (i) in a 150ml beaker."

[mjc123]

The only reference I can find is in what appears to be a Malay chemical dictionary, and is rendered by Google Translate thus:
"tablets of cellulose pulp was ashy that can spread easily in water; can hold a blockage and embedding fine sediment on filter paper"
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7zzlUf927wUC&pg=PA818&lpg=PA818&dq=whatman+accelerator&source=bl&ots=_fumViuH5O&sig=B5hixrCvzHGSPbLvkBwLV2LiUdM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EfhcVIbIKKyV7Aaww4DQBg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=whatman%20accelerator&f=false