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Looking for lab grade nitric acid

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LAN_403

Logan Kennedy

Thu Aug 07 2008, 06:17PM

Registered Member #1103 Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:02PM
Location: Houston
Posts: 80

I'm looking to buy around 500ml to a L of concentrated nitric acid.

Before anybody asks what I need it for: it's to make aqua regia, and also for an experiment with the platinum group metals.

Name your price, also please note I can only accept your offer if you're in the United States. Shipping for the hazardous material overseas/border would be costly.

quicksilver

Fri Aug 08 2008, 04:18PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

Logan: I actually have a great source for such things but the hazmat on that makes it incredulous. They now have regulations that you would not believe! The standard shippers won't touch it anymore!!!!!! No UPS or FedEx; it has to go private trucking.
Email me and I'll explain; if you still have any interest after all the hoops you have to jump through - I have a extremely good source. They use a great deal of it in the mining, precious metals applications out here in my neck of the woods.
But they usually get it through returnable stainless steel drums but the 100's of gallons level via private trucking. It will be getting it TO YOU that's the issue!

quicksilver

Sat Aug 09 2008, 02:19PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

I've been thinking this over and have some general advice. The shipping for even a liter would bring the total costs close to the $200 area. With that in mind, what I would consider is contact Ace Glass or several other companies and buy a all glass distillation kit for about $100 in 24/40 connection size. Use a 2 liter collection flask and distill your own via solid nitrates and H2SO4 based drain opener. The result will be nearly anhydrous and cost zilch compared to buying from a middleman or even tech-grade material. Additionally you'd have the ability to continually make the acid on a "when needed" basis.
You, of course, can contact me for all sorts of referrals for lab equipment. I advise not to go through Ebay, as they report sales of most any chemical related materials to the authorities as their "good deed" - yes, even non-drug related materials......That's one of the reasons for my personal feelings about them. I don't want to take this off topic but that happened to a 63yr old woman who makes jewelery.

IMO it's really the best answer to the problems of shipping & cost factors for a simple liter of material. For a solid nitrate you could use most any alkali metal nitrate; even KNO3 stump remover, if you could provide for it's relative purity (which is actually not too bad.

Because of the drug manufacturing issue many chemicals have become nearly impossible for the hobbyist to obtain. Acids are not too bad especially the common ones. But many chemicals are now on a DEA "watch list", (because of their abuse,) can provide all sorts of complications. On the other hand those chemicals that have (almost ever) been involved in a Super Fund clean up have had shipping restrictions imposed upon them to the point that even Universities have to contact private label trucking firms to deliver from large suppliers.

What's more, because of the US economy, those chemicals that use either precious metals or almost anything that is military related have jumped in price to an unobtainable degree. Examples are silver nitrate which now sells for close to $10 a gram IN BULK!!!! Platinum & derivatives (used in missile guidance systems, etc) is now referred to as "Un-obtainium". Universities now have the students simply make MANY chemicals needed for labs.......My point is that making these materials for an "as needed" basis is now all too common & really, the way to go.

Logan Kennedy

Sat Aug 09 2008, 05:46PM

Registered Member #1103 Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:02PM
Location: Houston
Posts: 80

Hi Quicksilver, thanks for both of your thoughtful and detailed replies. I realized shipping would be expensive, but wow, that's insane! It seemed like years ago there was much less hassle.

I will be sure to contact you privately in regard to this matter. Thanks a ton for all the good advice.

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Sat Aug 09 2008, 06:22PM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

You know, distilling your own Nitric Acid is very dangerous, you can kill yourself doing it because you're dealing with Nitrous Monoxide, a clear gas until it comes into contact with oxygen then its too late, you have a Red-Brown cloud suffocating you.

So if you're going to be telling someone to make their own, at least tell them there is a risk of death involved.

Oh, and secondly you will have to re-distill it to get it to the desired concentration and thats even more dangerous.

I would probably suggest you get in contact with some kind of business that deals with metal for etching supplies. Anodizers use Nitric often for pickling, Jewelry places may still use it for cleaning, and you may find it at glass distributers for silvering.

Making your own is very dangerous, and from my experiences, a waste of time and Sulphuric Acid. If you're a first-timer just be really careful because what you're being told here is life threatening if you don't know what you're doing.

Logan Kennedy

Sat Aug 09 2008, 06:28PM

Registered Member #1103 Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:02PM
Location: Houston
Posts: 80

Ah, actually I was aware of the danger involved. I've read about some of these procedures before. One can make all sorts of interesting reagents through dry distillation.

This is definitely a project for a good fumehood, or outside perhaps. I already knew about this procedure, but I didn't want to perform it because of the risk involved.

Heh, if I were new to chemistry, I would definitely not try this process, and even now, I'm weary of trying it.

Hon1nbo

Sat Aug 09 2008, 11:01PM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 1042

jewelers are good people to talk to (if they are the kind that actually MAKE a variety of jewelry, as they need to use Aqua Regia for their purposes, or sometimes pure nitric acid... A local one stopped by a garage sale I had a while back looking for some old stuff that might be being sold, and while I waited for my mom, a conversation started about his business and I happened to ask if he uses nitric acid, and he said their was a local supplier (who I lost the info about),. but nonetheless: they can tell you where to look without going a long way.

Logan Kennedy

Mon Aug 11 2008, 02:45PM

Registered Member #1103 Joined: Mon Nov 05 2007, 06:02PM
Location: Houston
Posts: 80

Yeah, it's a good suggestion, but in my area if you ask for these type of chemicals, you're immediately marked suspicious.

There's so much rampant drug manufacturing conspiracies around this area. It's tough for a hobbyist nowadays.

Hon1nbo

Mon Aug 11 2008, 06:03PM

Registered Member #902 Joined: Sun Jul 15 2007, 08:17PM
Location: Pacific Northwest USA
Posts: 1042

is nitric acid actually used in drugs!?

Myke

Mon Aug 11 2008, 07:04PM

Registered Member #540 Joined: Mon Feb 19 2007, 07:49PM
Location: MIT
Posts: 969

Doubt it but to some people, anything seems like it can be used as/to make a drug.

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