Unbelievable, found my 1977, Creative Food Processor Cookbook (for American Cuisinart owners) and there under the soft pretzel recipe was the hint that you could use bicarb soda solution as an alternative !!!
I just liked living dangerously and used lye solutions for soaking olives, so it was no big deal. The lye solution was good for then cleaning out the drains (that's what is in Drano !!).
Sorry Alioop - did it again?