Access to Hydrogen Sulfide?

[Sara Ann Wylie]

Hi all,

We are getting ready to begin lab testing to calibrate our photographic paper
strips. For research notes on this see below. Unfortunately tanks of Hydrogen
Sulfide are quite costly. Does anyone have access to Hydrogen Sulfide? Or a
good protocol for making it in known quantities?

Cheers

Sara

Links to work on this project:

Description of what we have for the experimental set up:
http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/sara/4-2-2012/planning-public-lab-h2s-screen-experiments-equipment

Description of prior lab research on this tool:
http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/sara/3-30-2012/description-horwell-et-al-2004-experimental-set-testing-photopaper-test-strips

Draft Experimental Design:
http://publiclaboratory.org/notes/sara/4-2-2012/h2s-experimental-set-draft-1

[Jeffrey Warren]

A quick googling shows:

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_sulfide#Production

* http://forums.homesciencelab.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=72 (DIY)

* http://www.sustainablesupply.com/MSA-711062-Calibration-Gas-40-Ppm-Hydrogen-Sulfide-p/w121488.htm for $157

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[dick.s...@comcast.net]

Let's be careful, folks. Hydrogen sulfide is extremely dangerous (as one of the links in the email chain below indicates, it is similar to hydrogen cyanide {the execution gas} in toxicity). It should be generated with extreme care, only by a professional chemist, and only in a laminar flow hood to channel the hydrogen sulfide away from the person generating it. As another of the links in the email chain cites, it is also very difficult to generate a controlled flow of a constant concentration of H2S gas (both requirements for a standard gas solution). Generating hydrogen sulfide gas using a cookbook procedure and without proper protection is following a recipe for a potentially tragic death.

Hydrogen sulfide detectors are available for rental through various sources, and cost approx $25 per day. These detectors should come pre-calibrated and ready to use; if rented for multiple days, they should come with a calibration kit, including directions. See http://www.idealcalibrations.com/gas-detector-rental/ for one example. Rental agencies exist in almost every major city, so shipping costs should not apply.

These detectors are also available for sale, but then you would need to have the standard gas, and this would essentially double the first cost price to around $400 for just the H2S monitoring capability.

Is the public laboratory a 501(c)(3) organization? Could it qualify as a professional or educational organization, even if loosely affiliated? If yes, you might find vendors or other parties that are willing and able to donate this equipment, sell it at a discount, make a donation toward purchase, etc. in exchange for a tax write-off. I am currently a member of two 501(c)(3) organizations (ASTM.org and SWANA.org) which accept sponsorships from various vendors in exchange for access to members at defined times and places. I would be willing to help register the public laboratory as a 501(c)(3) organization if this seems worthwhile to accomplishing your goals.

Dick Sprague

---

From: "Jeffrey Warren" <je...@publiclaboratory.org>
To: publicla...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 2, 2012 4:05:36 PM
Subject: Re: [PLOTS] Access to Hydrogen Sulfide?

[Shannon Dosemagen]

Thanks for your thoughts Dick! In regards to 501(c)(3) status, we have filed the 1023 papers with the IRS and are waiting for a decision from them. Best, Shannon

Shannon Dosemagen
Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science
504.239.4642
publiclaboratory.org