Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Safe disposal of KCN

Umbrellaterm - 5-12-2020 at 06:34

I’m searching but it’s hard to find?
How do I detoxify KCN by the SIMPLEST method?

Antigua - 5-12-2020 at 06:37

From "Hazardous Laboratory Chemicals Disposal Guide" by Margaret-Ann Armour

disposal.PNG - 328kB

[Edited on 5-12-2020 by Antigua]

Umbrellaterm - 5-12-2020 at 06:41

Wow, that’s the easiest method?

Antigua - 5-12-2020 at 06:42

It's not complicated at all. This is the "official" procedure. If you use it correctly you're guaranteed to safely dispose of any hazardous cyanide spills.

vano - 5-12-2020 at 06:42

High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

Umbrellaterm - 5-12-2020 at 06:43

Quote: Originally posted by Antigua  
It's not complicated at all. This is the "official" procedure. If you use it correctly you're guaranteed to safely dispose of any hazardous cyanide spills.

I see, great thank you.
I’ll have to translate this but I guess I have to.

unionised - 5-12-2020 at 07:11

Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

How does that work?

Antigua - 5-12-2020 at 07:20

Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

How does that work?

Hope you find these articles interesting :)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3181/00379727-39-102...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6661693/
https://legacy.azdeq.gov/function/programs/download/md335.pd...

vano - 5-12-2020 at 07:21

Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

How does that work?


studies in guinea pigs. If I was poisoned with cyanide I would definitely try it instantly.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6661693/

outer_limits - 5-12-2020 at 08:12

Hydrogen cyanide has really low pKa, it can be released from cyanide solutions even by H2CO3 that is being produced from atmosphere CO2.

I wouldn't mix it with any acid, I would use alkaline bleach solution

[Edited on 5-12-2020 by outer_limits]

teodor - 5-12-2020 at 11:13

Looks like several people don't need their cyanides anymore. The rest is still try to figure out something ...

[Edited on 5-12-2020 by teodor]

rockyit98 - 6-12-2020 at 07:47

i think heating with Sulfur or adding sodium thiosulfate is good way to go. while you at it maybe make some prussian blue.

unionised - 6-12-2020 at 08:08

Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

How does that work?


studies in guinea pigs. If I was poisoned with cyanide I would definitely try it instantly.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6661693/


You need to read that more carefully. The paper says .
High-dose ascorbic acid decreases detoxification of cyanide derived from amygdalin (laetrile): studies in guinea pigs.

Vitamin C stops the guinea pigs from destroying cyanide (by reaction with sulphur donors).

unionised - 6-12-2020 at 08:10

Quote: Originally posted by Antigua  
Quote: Originally posted by unionised  
Quote: Originally posted by vano.kavt  
High-dose ascorbic acid Is a good method for cyanohydrin glucosides, as a rule it should also act on inorganic cyanides.

How does that work?

Hope you find these articles interesting :)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3181/00379727-39-102...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6661693/
https://legacy.azdeq.gov/function/programs/download/md335.pd...


Yes, they are interesting.
Buty they do not answer my question.
They refer to cyanide possibly messing up the measurement of vitamin C and to the use of vitamin C to prevent chlorine messing up measurements of cyanide.
(and to the fact that vitamin C actually makes some cyanide derivatives more toxic to guinea pigs)