Aqua Regia Eating Bottle?

[crazy4gold]

Hello all, First post here.

I did try using the search feature but as all the keywords were very common I got like 1100 results lol So please forgive me if this has been covered.

I have recently begun buying scrap gold, jewlery etc. I use a testing kit from my local jewelry supply store. I recently went to take the 22k out and noticed it was leaking.

Now a few points to note:

1. I keep the acid bottles in their case while driving and then transfer them to a plastic bag in my pocket once I get to the swap meet/ garage sale etc.
2. I put electrical tape on the lids so they dont come off or loosen.
3. At home I poured the bottle into a glass beaker, neutralised with baking soda and filled the bottle with water and let it set. It is indeed a leak, it looks like a seam or something.
4. During the next week the 10K and the 14K started leaking but not the Platinum lol


So my next course of action was to look up the recipes which I found here: http://goldrefiningforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=311&start=0 (Hence how I found you all )

I see that 18K is a weakened form of aqua regia. My next step was to look at my bottles. The dropper tip, bottle, and cap are made of various plastics (2,4 and 5). So then I went to naglene's website and looked at their chemical resistance data and got this:

Aqua Regia, pure - Oxidizer, Acid
LDPE at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
HDPE at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PP at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PPCO at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMP at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PETG at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
FEP at 20C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
TFE at 20C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
PFA at 20C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
ECTFE at 20C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
ETFE at 20C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
PC at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
RPVC at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PVCT at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PSF at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PS at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PVDF at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMX at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
TMX at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PET at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMMA at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
SAN at 20C ..... Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
PK at 20C ..... Data not available.
FLPE at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
TPE at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
SILI at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
XLPE at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
NYL at 20C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
LDPE at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
HDPE at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PP at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PPCO at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMP at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PETG at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
FEP at 50C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
TFE at 50C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
PFA at 50C ..... No damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
ECTFE at 50C ..... Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
ETFE at 50C ..... Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure.
PC at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
RPVC at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PVCT at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PSF at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PS at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PVDF at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMX at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
TMX at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PET at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PMMA at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
SAN at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
PK at 50C ..... Data not available.
FLPE at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
TPE at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
SILI at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
XLPE at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.
NYL at 50C ..... Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use.


So I gather from this that not a single plastic (HDPE, LDPE or PP) used in this bottle is able to withstand Aqua regia for long. Am I missing something? Is this a common thing to have the welds eaten through by the solution? I know the 10,14, and even 18K are kind of diluted. However I am assuming the 22K and the Platinum are true balls to the wall Aqua regia correct?

I called the jewelry supply and they stated they never have had a complaint before.

Basically I am asking if you all will turn over your test bottles and read me off the recycle plastic number haha.

No seriously, anyone that can enlighten me on why they are made from plastics that cant withstand the chemical. Also is there maybe a crushproof glass dropper bottle I can get for these guys?

And finally I am fully aware that having these acids in my jacket pocket isnt per se the brightest thing. However it is the chest pocket on my jacket and it doesnt have anything else in it to crush or cut the bottles etc.

W00h00 first post and I write a small dime novel for a question..does that qualify for any bonus points? lol

Thank you in advance,

Scott

 

[qst42know]

I'm certain it's simply a cost compromise.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=teflon+bottle&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADBF_enUS241US242&prmd=ivns&biw=1131&bih=631&wrapid=tlif129517376660910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=3017031606613907164&ei=GckyTZ3SIYjegQery-ThCw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CGwQ8wIwBw#

A one ounce FEP dropper bottle, empty for $49.

I've had similar experience with test acid bottles. Lids that don't seal even with the cap screwed tight. And bottles blown so thin the paper label degrades on test acid that has never been opened.

If you must carry test acid with you I wouldn't rely on a LDPE zip bag to provide much protection. This should be a safer way.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[Irons]

Oxidizing acids break chemical bonds in the plastic, causing it to become brittle over time. The more you use and handle the bottle, the more likely it will crack.

Plastic bottles are cheap. Buy a bunch on Ebay and make up fresh test solutions periodically. IMHO :mrgreen:

 

[crazy4gold]

Hey thanks for the posts folks.

I guess 250 bucks for all my acid bottles to switch to FEP isnt too big of price to save a chemical burn. And that medicine bottle is slick too.

I guess I am just surprised the government allows them to put hazardous chemicals in containers they KNOW will not withstand it for long. It boggles the mind lol What if the bottle sits on a shelf for a few months and then gets shipped out, the stupid bottle could start leaking days after you get it. Heck, my 10K solution was probably 4/5ths full when it started leaking during the week.

On the brightside, I usually keep my loupe in the wooden case, and the loupe cost more than the whole acid kit did. I woulda been really miffed if it had leaked on my loupe and dissolved it lol


Hey thanks again guys I appreciate the responses.

Scott

 

[Harold_V]

Test kits used to come with small square glass bottles with a ground glass stopper---which had a dauber on the end. They held a fluid ounce.

What a sorry lot we have become. In my time, it would have been unconscionable to sell items that are not suited to the intended use. One can conclude that the seller of the kits in question has but one objective---to separate people form their money.

Harold

 

[crazy4gold]

What a sorry lot we have become. In my time, it would have been unconscionable to sell items that are not suited to the intended use. Harold

Isn't that the truth Harold,


It reminds me of a talk I had with a 6 year old in my house. His GI Joes break constantly. I remember GI Joes in my day were made in China but they took a licking and kept on going. Homemade parachutes that didnt open lol smacking the asphalt from 30 feet. Even black cat and lady finger "mine fields" couldnt destroy em lol


It is a sad day indeed when you have to explain to a 6 year old how "your" old imported chinese crap is waaaaay better than "their" imported chinese crap of today.

And don't even get me started on the whole cadmium thing hehe.

point is you know you are getting old when you "long" for the chinese imports of yesterday lol


Scott

 

[imexsmc]

Hello All,

I'm looking to do an experiment using Aqua Regia (AR) and was wondering if there is any material out there besides glass and ptfe that can "temporarily" withstand AR corrosion, while I do the experiment.
I know that all plastics are not corrosion resistant to AR, but does anyone know if an extra thick polypropylene or polyethylene pale can "temporarily" withstand AR corrosion. The experiment will last for 6-8 hours?

Any advise will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Mike

 

[qst42know]

Many use HDPE buckets. Polypropylene beakers are cheap. Just check them for brittleness over time.