Dental scrap question

Hi all,

So I am collecting scrap crowns from extracted teeth. To disenfect them we place them in a solution of water and bleach in a 10:1 ratio. Lately, I have noticed that the water is turning black and there seems to be black particles floating in the water. Any ideas as to what this could be? I know that the crowns contain platinum, palladium, copper, silver, zinc and i believe iridium. I had two gold crowns in there as well as a piece of titanium.

Thanks!
Tom

If bleach = hypochlorite
then black = oxide
e.g. copper.
Any mercury amalgam?
Lino1406

Disinfect them with heat instead of chemicals. A small torch, even propane, will serve well. Get them to red heat and you have nothing to fear.

One caution---------it's not uncommon to find silver amalgam under gold crowns---------which means you'll evaporate the mercury.


Harold