Humidity during your production

Topic created by Wapopperbator
on Mon, 24 Feb 2025 at 20:19

Wapopperbator said on Mon, 24 Feb 2025 at 20:19...

I understand that moisture is the enemy of all alkyl nitrites. Not so great for somebody tying to produce a consistent product and living the extremely damp Pacific Northwest.
I'm curious what strategies others have tried to dehumidify their working environment when making a batch of poppers, and it if had noticeable effects on the final product.
Am I overthinking this?

Dr. Wang said on Mon, 24 Feb 2025 at 20:31...

The reaction itself produces water, even with totally anhydrous precursors.
C5H12O + NaNO2 + HCl = C5H11NO2 + NaCl + H2O
C5H12O + NaNO2 + H2SO4 = C5H11NO2 + Na2SO4 + H2O
Humidity is not totally insignificant, since you will be working at ice cold temps, but thorough, multi-step drying is called for regardless. I am thinking less water in equals more stable product, but at some point you're trying to stir paste. Magnetic stirring doesn't cut it.

No. You're not overthinking it.

Dr. Wang said on Mon, 24 Feb 2025 at 20:44...

AI recommends running the entire reaction and handling under nitrogen. One may get a bottle and try the nitrosylsulfuric acid, or even dry HCL under nitrogen with mechanical stirring. But that would be the last tweak I would turn to, if all else fails. Mainly because those are two things I don't have.

Wapopperbator said on Mon, 24 Feb 2025 at 23:52...

Doing the whole thing under nitrogen is taking it to the next level. Not something that I'll be attempting anytime soon.

Dr. Wang said on Tue, 25 Feb 2025 at 18:24...

Yeah, it's hardcore.