Butyric acid

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ri
Posts: 278
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Butyric acid

Post by ri »

Hello all,
it seems there is nothing that makes such beautiful esters as butyric acid. Has anyone some ideas how to store this horrible stuff?
At present I have it in the 25mL bottles it came in, inside a self-seal plastic bag, inside a glass jar, inside another glass jar, inside the corrosive cupboard, inside our ventilated chemical store AND we still can smell it as we pass the door!!#*!!#
~Robyn :yuck:
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J
Posts: 714
Joined: 13 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant
School: DHS
State/Location: NSW

Re: Butyric acid

Post by J »

Hi Robyn

This is an extract from some notes that I took at the 2006 Science SASS conference in St Marys:

Hexanoic
Heptanoic
Stearic
Octanoic
- dispose of smelly Butyric acid – it is not needed. The above acids make esters with fruity smells.

I still have a small amount of butyric acid stored in a similar fashion to what you described. I am too stingy to throw it away, but will be overjoyed when it's all gone. Haven't tried the above suggestions yet, but will when the happy day comes and the butyric is all gone. \:D/ \:D/ \:D/

Julie
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Robb
Posts: 2062
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Butyric acid

Post by Robb »

Hi All,

I store Butanoic Acid (Butyric Acid) in the bottle it currently is in, then I have a secondary container that I use to house this. It offers greater protection from escaping odour.

Bottles that are emptied from used chemicals are great for this.

Cheers,

Robb.....
Dr Robert Crosdale. MRACI. NSS. NSSA. NASA.
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.

To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.

** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
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celia1
Posts: 51
Joined: 13 Dec 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Butyric acid again

Post by celia1 »

Has any one experience bad headache because of the Butyric acid.
The students spilled it and i had to clean the two labs up and there was a few classes doing for the past two weeks The headache does want to go away

Celia
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Robb
Posts: 2062
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Butyric acid

Post by Robb »

Hi All,

Butanoic Acid can cause headaches as the odour is quite... shall we say... aromatic. It is an Organic Acid so I stronly suggest preventing inhallation of this material where possible. Organic Acids are quite Toxic in their own way as all Organic Acids cause severe health affects.

Just be careful when handling these types of acids...

Cheers,

Robb.....
Last edited by Robb on 11 Jun 2008, 01:05, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Change of Sentence
Dr Robert Crosdale. MRACI. NSS. NSSA. NASA.
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.

To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.

** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
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sunray18
Posts: 1488
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 12:30
State/Location: NSW

Re: Butyric acid

Post by sunray18 »

I sincerely hope you have reported your headaches to management - you have been exposed to a Toxic substance in your workplace - make sure you have filled out all the appropriate forms... should the school have called Hazmat in?
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