Using Sulfur Dioxide gas ?

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grainsofgold

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May 28, 2007
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Location
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When you use sulphur dioxide gas to drop gold does a stannous test ever show a false positive that can happen when you’ve used too much SMB ?

When you use SO2 gas , is it best to connect the hose to a long piece of glass tubing 2-3 mm inside diameter and flow the gas slowly from the bottom of the beaker ? Or is there a better way than flowing the gas through a glass tube , perhaps a diffuser with multiple holes for the gas to pass through?

It’s been a while since i used the gas. Thinking of starting to again.

Thanks.

GOG
 
When you use sulphur dioxide gas to drop gold does a stannous test ever show a false positive that can happen when you’ve used too much SMB ?

When you use SO2 gas , is it best to connect the hose to a long piece of glass tubing 2-3 mm inside diameter and flow the gas slowly from the bottom of the beaker ? Or is there a better way than flowing the gas through a glass tube , perhaps a diffuser with multiple holes for the gas to pass through?

It’s been a while since i used the gas. Thinking of starting to again.

Thanks.

GOG
I've been told using a diffuser causes problems because the gold will precipitate INSIDE the little cavities and clog them up, and you'd need to then crush and process the diffuser to get the gold out of it. If you can find or make a plastic tube with a doze or so holes at the end you put into the gold solution, that could work as a diffuser. As long as the holes are 'melted' (have smooth walls) gold won't stick to them, and any that does reduce on the plastic can be easily washed off into the rest.
 
My SO2 supplier informed me that I need to have a wall mounted SO2 gas leak detector with 0-20ppm detection level -

I've not used used one of these before- If a member has experience with these I would appreciate your reply-

Do they plug into a 110v receptacle to get power ? Id prefer to leave it plugged in if that's an option.

How long do they last? Do you have to replace the sensor from time to time and can you buy them separately ?

Are the ones made in China sold on Ebay OK to use ?

My SO2 cylinder will have a stainless steel specialty regulator attached to it that will allow me to leave the flow rate where I want it so I only have to open a valve to start and stop the flow. When I'm done using the gas the valve on the tank will be shut off and the gas purged from the line-

Harold didn't use a regulator and before when I used the gas I didn't either but this time I will be - just a matter of choice for me -

Thank you

GOG
 
I have clients who don't like to spend money, go figure! Anyway a few have been told by fire inspectors that they needed detectors because there is an annual chemical listing they must submit to the fire inspectors. From what I have been told the fire inspectors assume you have piping in the shop which have a potential to leak because the pipe is typically pressurized. In a refinery when you have a cylinder with a regulator and a hose connected to a glass or CPVC wand, there is no pressurized piping and he gas is shut at the valve so there is no pressurized gas line. Once that was pointed out to the inspectors they were satisfied.

Maybe that approach will work for you.
 
My SO2 supplier informed me that I need to have a wall mounted SO2 gas leak detector with 0-20ppm detection level -

I've not used used one of these before- If a member has experience with these I would appreciate your reply-

Do they plug into a 110v receptacle to get power ? Id prefer to leave it plugged in if that's an option.

How long do they last? Do you have to replace the sensor from time to time and can you buy them separately ?

Are the ones made in China sold on Ebay OK to use ?

My SO2 cylinder will have a stainless steel specialty regulator attached to it that will allow me to leave the flow rate where I want it so I only have to open a valve to start and stop the flow. When I'm done using the gas the valve on the tank will be shut off and the gas purged from the line-

Harold didn't use a regulator and before when I used the gas I didn't either but this time I will be - just a matter of choice for me -

Thank you

GOG
Industrial grade gas detectors which are used for safety alarm purposes are always battery powered (due to possible blackout). Many are even so called "disposable", with fixed (non-replaceable) heavy duty industrial grade Li-SOCl2 battery inside, which typically last around 5-10 years. After battery dies (typically different alarm start to go signaling low battery), detector is replaced with new one (companies may offer swap for new one at discounted rate, but this is probably too old fashioned for today´s disposable era :) )

Fixed battery prevents any unauthorized battery replacement - this protects both the manufacturer and mainly the user.

Detectors of this kind aren´t cheap. But nothing extreme. If there will be any incident, police/law enforcement/insurance companies will investigate the level of precautions and protection of the working enviroment and take very seriously, if there was quality, certified detector used as safety measure.

However, if we are talking just about SO2 gas, your nose and taste are probably as good detectors as industrial grade ones :) Also, be prepared that mentioned detector will go off on regular basis, as these are very very sensitive. Odor threshold for SO2 for average person is below 5 ppm. Above 20-50 ppm is the concerning level (not immediately life threatening, but bad). Above these levels, your nose will be sore and you will be caughing after few moments.
With this, I did not meant to discourage from possession of good gas detector, but to point out that you will be alarmed not only from detector alarm if your tank leak :)
 
Thank you -

I have asked my gas supplier to check with the Fire Dept about the fact that the tanks will be shut off and there will not be piping and no pressurized lines. The supplier has a check off list on their site surveys that their company requires to be completed.

It makes sense that these are battery powered - Do the sensors have a working life span ?

Thank you -

GOG
 
Thank you -

I have asked my gas supplier to check with the Fire Dept about the fact that the tanks will be shut off and there will not be piping and no pressurized lines. The supplier has a check off list on their site surveys that their company requires to be completed.

It makes sense that these are battery powered - Do the sensors have a working life span ?

Thank you -

GOG
Hard to say. But these are usually quality products with full specs - or you get some sort of working time guarantee clearly stated in the manual/specs list.

Our CO detector in my day to day have guaranteed 10 years operating time, if alarms aren´t set (buzzer quickly deplete battery power) if I remember correctly. Plus at certain temperature+humidity levels.
 

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