Re[2]: Ferricyanide... delicious but deadly.

[pbadcock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi Jesse,
         the last paragraph in your post caused me to gasp at my monitor as I 
perused what read like a suspense mystery novel!  Surely this mix of chemicals 
(Acidic stop bath + Farmer's reducer) in a darkroom wouldn't be all that 
uncommon?!
I also refer to a previous post from Sandor in which he suggested that high 
temperatures were required to give an appreciable reaction between the acid and 
the ferricyanide. 

"I think it also needs temperatures on the order of 400 deg. F before it will 
break down, which I haven't been able to achieve in my stomach no matter how 
much curry, chili, or wasabi I eat.
............
Sandor Mathe  -- sandor.mathe@xxxxxxxx"

I'm sure the darkroom sink wasn't sitting at 400 deg F., after all one would 
have a hard time unloading IR film near it  for fear of fogging! ;)
On a serious note though, it appears as though high temps aren't needed in 
an acid environment for this Ferricyanide to break down.

regards
Peter B.


______________________________ Reply Separator ________
Subject: Re: Ferricyanide... delicious but deadly.
Date:    11/11/97 3:06 PM

Dear Ken,

As the cyanide 'molecule' is bonded to iron, it is not free to act as a 
poison, and providing common sense prevails as has been already mentioned, 
handling the compound presents few safety concerns. 

<snip...>

As a note, however, I was involved in an incident where an individual had poured
typical strength stop bath down the sink without washing down the sink afterward
and left without telling anyone. I entered the darkroom soon after and poured 
excess farmer's reducer down the sink... let's just say that when Levi Hill 
described cyanide poisoning as being similar to being hit on the back of the 
head with a sledghammer, 

<snip...>

Jesse


*
****
*******
******************************************************
*  To remove yourself from this list, send:          *
*         UNSUBSCRIBE INFRARED                       *
*       to                                           *
*         MAJORDOMO@xxxxx                            *
*----------------------------------------------------*
*   For the IR-FAQ, IR-Gallery and heaps of links:   *
*  http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mainpage.htm  *
******************************************************

------------------------------