An emission mix slurry for coating fluorescent lamp electrodes is provided having a suspension medium of polyethylene glycol 200, and a mixture of calcium-, strontium-, and barium carbonate powder as suspended solids. In another embodiment, the suspension medium is primarily water. The slurry is formulated such that upon activation, the carbonates are oxidized to their corresponding oxides to form the emission mix oxide coating while the polyethylene glycol suspension medium is cleanly oxidized evolving substantially only CO2 and H2O vapor. A method for preparing the emission mix slurry is also provided.