Discussion Is using old SN safe?

[wereqryan]

I bought 2 sachets of 99% pure SN from IC in 2021. The labels say that the salt in these two sachets expires 2024. I opened one of them for only 30 seconds before sealing it back, and the other one has remained unopened. Can I still use this SN even though its supposedly expired? I have read on this forum that pure salts have no expiry date and are good for life. I know this question has been asked before quite a few times, but I'd still like some reassurance because my need to ctb is growing again.

 

[EmptyBottle]

Stability of SN and N

But would the vacuum sealed bag be enough or would it go bad if it's not put in a second container? I assume it's probably stored like that for a long time anyway and ships that way so probably but does anyone know in more detail I think its fine as long as it remains in the sealed bag.

sanctioned-suicide.net

This resource may help (tho, if I may ask, what drives the need for CTB)?

 

[Hiro Uchiha]

I bought 2 sachets of 99% pure SN from IC in 2021. The labels say that the salt in these two sachets expires 2024. I opened one of them for only 30 seconds before sealing it back, and the other one has remained unopened. Can I still use this SN even though its supposedly expired? I have read on this forum that pure salts have no expiry date and are good for life. I know this question has been asked before quite a few times, but I'd still like some reassurance because my need to ctb is growing again.

Moisture, heat and purity are the main factors that play a big role with sn stability in prolonged storage. We can't really know for sure without proper testing, but how the substance was packed and stored should give us a rough idea about it's viability.
Best if you can get access to aquarium test kits, or maybe a crude blood test described here:

WARNING BLOOD

Just got my hands on 500gm ~99% purity SN from a chem dealer (Philippines). Since nitrite test kit isn't available at the moment, I did some crude blood testing to see if there will be a reaction similar to what's been published here and other sources. Here's some info:

Spoiler: Blood test

View attachment 181602
SN Grains, white, solid, fine, crystalline powder.


View attachment 181603
Test 1 set up

Drops of fresh blood dropped in a glass vessel with few grains of SN powder.

View attachment 181604
View attachment 181606
Reaction to Test 1

SN readily dissolve in blood. Rapid conversion of bright red blood sample into dark brown colored blood (methemoglobinemia).


View attachment 181605
Test 2 set up

Blood is dripped on a napkin, second patch of blood is added with very little amount of SN powder. Immediate reaction is observed and progressed to more regular blood being converted into dark colored product overtime.

Disclaimer: This test does not quantitatively confirm the purity of the Salt from the Chem supplier; although I am convinced that this is at least 99% purity. The supplier did send comprehensive resources on the description and safety in handlings the specific product. Overall, a reliable source in my opinion.

Mine only has 2 years shelf life, probably because it's Food Grade, but this sn will most definitely be viable for years after it's expiration.

 

[wereqryan]

Moisture, heat and purity are the main factors that play a big role with sn stability in prolonged storage.

I've been keeping my SN sachets under my bed, How would that affect SN stability?

 

[Hiro Uchiha]

I've been keeping my SN sachets under my bed, How would that affect SN stability?

I'm assuming they're sealed and protected from direct exposure to moisture and sunlight. Given that, I believe your SN retained it's viability. It's hygroscopic, meaning it collects water molecules from the air so check if your salt is moist. If it is, that's a sign it's probably bad because nitrite to nitrate decomposition is accelerated by moisture.

 

[wereqryan]

I'm assuming they're sealed and protected from direct exposure to moisture and sunlight. Given that, I believe your SN retained it's viability. It's hygroscopic, meaning it collects water molecules from the air so check if your salt is moist. If it is, that's a sign it's probably bad because nitrite to nitrate decomposition is accelerated by moisture.

Ok thanks. That clears things up.

tho, if I may ask, what drives the need for CTB

I have mental and physical health problems. And I have failed in everything that I've tried in life. My life isn't getting better, its getting worse. Times for me to go now.

 

[Alexandra_]

You can buy a new SN. But if that's not possible, you can use an old, unopened package. The shelf life of my technical SN is six months, but some people have written that, if stored properly, it can be stable for 10 years or more. It's not the cold that spoils SN, but heat and humidity. I'm sorry you're suffering so much in this life. I, too, am eagerly awaiting my long-awaited bus.

 

[Endisclose]

You can buy a new SN. But if that's not possible, you can use an old, unopened package. The shelf life of my technical SN is six months, but some people have written that, if stored properly, it can be stable for 10 years or more. It's not the cold that spoils SN, but heat and humidity. I'm sorry you're suffering so much in this life. I, too, am eagerly awaiting my long-awaited bus.

Six months?? That's the lowest I've heard ever. What sort of packaging is it in? Mine is in a hdpe container with a factory made seal with a shelf life of 5 years. OP says "sachets". It really depends on how good the seal is on the packaging. That's what's gonna keep the air and moisture out. SN is SN but the packaging is what matters in the end I guess.

 

[wereqryan]

Six months?? That's the lowest I've heard ever.

Yeah me too.

You can buy a new SN.

Where can I get it? DMC website went down. SD lists Sodium Azide but not SN. CC has no stock on SN.

 

[Alexandra_]

Six months?? That's the lowest I've heard ever. What sort of packaging is it in? Mine is in a hdpe container with a factory made seal with a shelf life of 5 years. OP says "sachets". It really depends on how good the seal is on the packaging. That's what's gonna keep the air and moisture out. SN is SN but the packaging is what matters in the end I guess.

Yeah me too.

Where can I get it? DMC website went down. SD lists Sodium Azide but not SN. CC has no stock on SN.

My SN comes in a sealed ziplock bag and a cardboard box. I recently saw in a post that DMC works, but it's called something different now

 

[Endisclose]

My SN comes in a sealed ziplock bag and a cardboard box. I recently saw in a post that DMC works, but it's called something different now

That explains the shelf life of 6 months. The packaging is not ideal for long term storage. Probably transferring it immediately upon arrival to an airtight glass container and/or using a vaccum sealing machine might help prolong the shelf life.

 

[Hiro Uchiha]

Six months?? That's the lowest I've heard ever.

Sometimes, it's marketing strategy distributors/manufacturers use to sell more products. This can also depend on whether the sn is Food grade, technical grade or reagent grade. SN labeled as food grade have shorter shelf life, even tho it's ~99% purity because contamination can happen overtime and of course, it's used in food so fresh raw materials are ideal-- but that doesn't, mean it will lose its viability. Again, SN is relatively stable in proper storage conditions.

But yours is tech grade so this is a good reason

That explains the shelf life of 6 months. The packaging is not ideal for long term storage. Probably transferring it immediately upon arrival to an airtight glass container and/or using a vaccum sealing machine might help prolong the shelf life.

 

[Alexandra_]

Even water at the supermarket has an expiration date. As Hiro Uchiha wrote, I also thought that manufacturers put such a short expiration date to sell more product. My SN is technical. Google shows that the expiration date for this product is 0.5 to 1 year. I can order a new package at any time