sufuric acid and glycerin dangerous????

[wildbill_hickup]

In searching the internet on sulfric cells I came accross a post about mixing sulfuric acid and glycerin. The poster claims that it is very dangerous and only a step or so from an explosive. Is this so? Could someone give more details as I set up LaserSteves cell as he discribed. I did however accidently add more glycerin than he specified 1 teaspoon. The cell has seemed to work perfectly though I would like to know if I am in danger.

In the same post the person also seemed to be concerned with mixing muriatic and hydrogen peroxide. He claims it can produce and explosive metal salt.

 

[Geo]

that video is 10? years old. no glycerin needed. it was first thought to trap impurities. this is not the case and steve keeps threatening to update his videos. :lol:

 

[wildbill_hickup]

I now know that glycerin isn't needed but before I found out I had allready filled the tank. I guess I asking at what point does the mixture become dangerous, and what about AP as I use that often on fingers.

 

[Geo]

its not dangerous unless you add some sort of nitrate to the mix. its ok to use this batch but dont add glycerin any more. glycerine is not needed for AP, as a matter of fact i cant think of anything i use it for.(except jell-o, theres always room for jell-o) :lol:

 

[Sucho]

because if you add NO3- ions you make a nitration mixture. glycerin will be nitrated. that makes nitroglycerin - compound that no one wants to have in a beaker because of high instability and high explosive characteristics

 

[wildbill_hickup]

Thanks for all your reasponces, I feel better now. Geo I wasn't suggesting the addition of glycerin to AP. This poster claims that AP itself will create exposive salts. Any ideas?

 

[Geo]

not any that i can think of. mostly choride or oxide salts. again there should be no nitrates in solution as this will create other compounds though still nothing explosive just things like aqua regia.

 

[Sucho]

HCl and H2O2 dont produce salts - there are no metal ions :lol: HCL is a gas solubilized in water, hydrogen peroxide decomposes to H2O and O2 when exposed to light, or heated etc.
the only compounds can be produced are CL2, HCLO .....

 

[wildbill_hickup]

Once again folks thanks. I kinda figured if there was any danger it would have been stressed on this forum, but I just had to check. Thanks for your time .

 

[Geo]

there are easy ways of making explosive compounds and as an unspoken rule we do not list any processes to specifically create them, we do advise which processes and/or compounds to avoid. the sulfuric stripping cell when operated as outlined on the forum should not pose an explosion hazard. AP when created and used as per instructions by our members who work with it does not make explosive compounds. there are some processes farther along that could pose this danger and thats why we advise all new members to read Hokes book and study the forum.

 

[Geo]

copper chloride is compound that actually dissolves the copper. its created when the hcl using the H2O2 as a catalyst to make copper oxide which the hcl can dissolve creating copper chloride which in the presence of oxygen will disolve copper. or am i wrong?

 

[butcher]

Geo, it seems to me you have a good understanding of this.
other things to consider in the above discussion is the concentration of solutions of acids and oxidizers.

Acid peroxide and the sulfuric cell is safe from the dangers mentioned in the above posts when used as taught here on the forum,
this is not to say they are totally safe, as precations must be taken, example of diluting concentrated sulfuric acid, dealing with waste solution's, toxic metals in solutions,and so on.

 

[goldsilverpro]

Just a thought. If glycerin has been used and, if I were using aqua regia to dissolve the sludge, I would make sure the sludge were well rinsed before adding the aqua regia.

 

[wildbill_hickup]

Just a thought. If glycerin has been used and, if I were using aqua regia to dissolve the sludge, I would make sure the sludge were well rinsed before adding the aqua regia.

Thanks for the thought. I can see why. I have not felt comfortable using AR yet and intend to desolve the gold using acid Clorox. Infact I probably will just clean the powder and store for later refining. I kinda jumped the gun cleaning out the tank(just couldn't wait) so there isn't much to process. :lol: I have rinced the powder several times though. I will keep your observation, as well as other for future use. Thanks again GSP and all who responded.