Discussion Preserving SN if you survive CTB attempt(s)

[Daniela]

From what I understand, after being opened, sodium nitrite turns into sodium nitrate fairly quickly. Let's say you survive after ingesting it, for whatever reason.

What could anyone do, besides buy multiple packages in advance and stockpile them up for future attempts?

 

[trynacbt]

I don't think you'd need to stockpile the packages. Just keep whatever package you originally used tightly sealed.

 

[Daniela]

Just keep whatever package you originally used tightly sealed.

Sorry to sound like a very simple-minded child, but how can I do that? Make sure it's tightly sealed, I mean.

 

[trynacbt]

You don't sound like a simple-minded child =) Depends, what kind of product is it? A bag? You might want to use one of those clips .. like, fold the bag over in small, tight sections and then clip it. A little harder than it would be if it were in a tub with a turnable top but still pretty simple

 

[noctiva]

I'm a bit lost with the fear that sodium nitrite turns into sodium nitrate at a fast rate. Where does that come from, I haven't found anything to that extend.

According to Sigma Aldrich, a company supplying laboratories, sodium nitrite is unstable IN SOLUTION (https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/conten...ldrich/Product_Information_Sheet/s2252pis.pdf). So your powder should be fine.
If you buy a bag of sodium nitrite or a screw cap plastic box, the sodium nitrite inside is in contact with air already. They are sealed packages yes, but the packaging doesn't take place in oxygen deprived conditions.
The sodium nitrite should be stored dry and closed. So to preserve it put it into something with a screw cap, close the screw cap tightly and, if you have, put parafilm, clingfilm or something similar around the lid. You can, if you have and you are really worried, put some silica sachet in there as well before sealing it against moisture.
The important point is: Don't have the package open, but you can have a previously opened package.

 

[noctiva]

It's tough to find, there are no 'best before' dates on sodium nitrite bottles. Please do not worry about sodium nitrite degradation.
If you store your sodium nitrite in a closed container, in low humidity and in a dark place, you will be fine. Most likely for decades.
Here's a thread I found online where some chemistry interested guys and girls discuss their NaNO2. They have bottles opened 10 to 30 years (!!) ago.

Sciencemadness Discussion Board - Nitrite shelf life - Powered by XMB 1.9.11

For my own work, I use NaNO2 that was opened in 2002, and it does exactly what it is supposed to do.
Here's ANOTHER link to the data safety sheet of NaNO2: https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/2258.pdf
Same story, closed container, low humidity, keep in dark.
When in doubt, get some silica sachets, put them into the container, close the container lid tightly and, if still in a paranoid frenzy, seal the lid off with parafilm or something similar, then hide it in your closet.

LD50 for NaNO2 is approximately 5 g for a person of 65 kg. We plan on ingesting at minimum triple that dose, some take up to 6 times the LD50 dose (15g - 30 g). If your NaNO2 is stored in a closed container in low humidity and in the dark, you will be fine and don't need to worry.

Just don't store it in the bathroom while showering, don't leave it on the south facing window sill in the summer, don't store it over the stove where you boil your noodles, don't leave the bottle open to air out.

Edit: I found another link: https://ingredi.com/content/pdfs/Sodium_Nitrite_Shelf_Life.pdf
Here, they name a MINIMUM shelf life of 3 years if the already mentioned factors (closed container, low humidity, dark storage place) are kept.
Additionally, you need to consider that you are buying at least 95% purity grade. Degradation doesn't mean it goes from 95% to 0% in a matter of days or weeks.

 

[JimFord99]

Hey, dan, it will be ok for a while. Keep I dry.