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Legality of isobutyl nitrite synthesis in the UK

Posted on Poppers Guide's Forum

Topic created by Jesse
on Thu, 18 Feb 2021 at 11:39

Jesse said on Thu, 18 Feb 2021 at 11:39...

I know that the sale of isobutyl nitrite is illegal (under The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Safety) Regulations 2006 as a carcinogen I think). I want to try making my own (as isopropyl nitrite you can still buy in the UK is rubbish and also damages your eyesight). However, sodium nitrite is required for this and, as it's classed as a poison and regulated, I'd need a licence to buy it. This begs the question whether it's actually legal to make your own isobutyl nitrite. If it is then I can just put that on the licence application! Does anyone know?

Nitritespecialist said on Thu, 18 Feb 2021 at 15:09...

In the USA, sodium nitrite can easily be purchased on Amazon or Ebay or straight from the middle man, BUT there is no assurance of quality. You have ZERO idea how it was stored, when it was made or what the exact purity is upon receipt. I have tried to purchase from large chemical companies such as Sigma, but the mark up was HUGE, so it dissuaded me from buying. So I can't say if the quality is good or not. If the SN isn't of sufficient quality, the poppers won't be good. They won't smell 100% sweet and they won't have good effects. Butyl nitrite for example should smell VERY sweet like candy or sweet banana taffy. I have only been able to accomplish that a handful of times at home. Typically, it smells bitter and worse than the base alcohol, butanol. Distillation may be the only way around impure reagents.

EU Sucks said on Fri, 19 Feb 2021 at 00:05...

Yes, The EU (in their infinite wisdom) declared and banned IBN as a cariogenic in 2006 even though there are no reported cases of human beings ever dying of it, only lab rats after forcibly inhaling it for 48 hours.

Jesse said on Fri, 19 Feb 2021 at 15:18...

Not even as short as 48 hours! The two studies had them inhaling IBN for 6 hours a day straight for weeks on end! Then '14 experts from eight countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)' agreed that it should be marked as a carcinogen and the EU therefore banned it. Ridiculous.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(18)30491-1/fulltext

Jacko said on Fri, 19 Feb 2021 at 23:08...

I’m not sure about the UK rules, but here in NZ I’ve been able to buy good quality food-grade SN from a chemical distributor (1kg pack) with no issues as a private individual.

Some people use SN for curing meats, so this is a reasonable premise if anyone asks what it’s for. It could be worth looking around some UK foodie forums to see if anyone is making artisanal small goods (bacon, dry sausages, etc) and talking about getting SN for that purpose.

Hazer said on Sat, 20 Feb 2021 at 00:09...

In the United States iso-butyl nitrite is listed as a carcinogen under specific workplace legislation (in some states). It is used in anti-freeze / Massachusetts bans it outright.

Pentyl / Amyl / iso thereof/ carries no such distinction. In fact it is used in the medical environment (I suspect that some snake bite kits still use amyl nitrite for example)

>6 hours a day straight for weeks on end!

Carcinogens do not operate in an immediate fashion. If they did the tobacco industry would collapse - as all smokers would pass quickly. The period of exposure used in the study is scientifically justified; a standard procedure to observe and make a valid conclusion.

Nitritespecialist said on Wed, 24 Feb 2021 at 17:51...

@Hazer...all the more reason for the governments to allow amyl and not the others.

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