I have been experimenting with different ways to use LOS. This leaves me with a small amount (1/2 a cup) of used solution each time that I color a piece. What is the safest, right and/or practical way to dispose of use LOS solution? Thanks for any help…Rob
I’ll be curious what people say, especially the scientists in the forum. I was taught that once LOS is exposed to oxygen and light and goes clear, (actually kind of milky), it’s neutralized. At that point it’s just dirty water and can go outside into the garden. It’s a little bit of old suphur water.
Again, I’ll be curious to see if that’s incorrect.
People pay big money to take sulphur baths. I don’t know if any of you have ever been to Ashland, Oregon. They have the Lithia Sulphur Hot Springs here.
Thanks for asking!
Jeff
1 Like
I rarely used LOS in the past and I would usually just throw it into the field next to us. Now that I am using it more to explore color and texture, I want to make sure that it is OK to dispose of this way. We had sulfur water in one of our houses and, other than for the odor, it never harmed us. I also know that people bathe in it. As long as LOS solutions are chemically the same as sulfur water, I won’t worry about it. I still look forward to what others might have to say. Thanks…Rob
Since posting, I have found a lot of information that basically confirms that you can neutralize it with baking soda or just leave it exposed to light until it turns clear then flush it down the drain. Thanks for the help…Rob
2 Likes
Liver of sulphur is alkaline (base) and therefore baking soda (also an alkaline/base) will not neutralize Liver of Sulphure. Just wait until the LOS is depleted/exhausted and turns clear in the container. This liquid can be disposed of down the drain. It will then not effect your plumbing or your septic system or your municipal sewer system.
1 Like
LOS is potassium sulfide and potassium polysuflide. the reaction with baking soda causes the formation of potassium carbonate and hydrogen sulfide gas…the latter is the rotten egg smell and is toxic at high concentrations. The LOS solution is a sulfide oxidant, is more alkaline than baking soda…potassium carbonate can be diluted and flushed down the drain. the draw back is creating hydrogen sulfide gas. LOS is chemically unstable in a water solution and will break down spontaneously in a day or two at room temperature…
1 Like
The problem with Hydrogen Sulfide is that it is highly toxic and deadly very rapidly.
And it overpowers/disables our sense of smell so we will not notice when it becomes deadly.
It is also a highly flammable gas with a very wide ignition concentration.
For small quantities of LOS it should not pose any problems though.
the amount of H2S produced slowly when a weak solution LOS is left to break down by exposure to air is minimal… it does smell bad, but it can be put outside or thrown outside for that matter…
Thanks all, I will dispose of my used LOS solution outside after letting it stand for a day or two. Thanks again for the help and assurance that what I am doing is OK…Rob
I have been experimenting with LOS on different textures. I have gotten to where I can control it and, more importantly, remove it to get the maximum amount of contrast with progressively finer abrasive papers from 400 grit to 8000 grit. Then I tumble for about an hour in SS shot and the dull color gets a nice polish. I made a number of pairs of earrings this way. I will call it my dark period and it will last for about four years from this past Tuesday…Rob
3 Likes
experimenting with LOS has been a lot of fun for me… it’s basicallly tarnish caused by the sulfur content… watching colors change from yellow to dark black was an experience… I wanted to create a thick coating of jet black tarnish, to high light a ring with a citrine representing the sun, a crescent moon out of sterling, and a small opal representing the moon… pulled it off successfully… key was to painting it on without spilling over to areas that I wanted to remain shiny…polishing the tarnish required a thick coat… was able to do it with a small buffing wheel… the wheel had to be discarded after use, as using it could spread tarnish…
My supply of LOS is now 25 years old… it’s been sealed in the original airproof container… I haven’t used any of it except for a small amount, since I had to quit making jewerly long ago… I could test it at risk of breaking the air seal and letting in more oxygen… my question to you is do you know how long LOS is good for if kept sealed airtight?.. I’m ready to give it away since I won’t be using it…but I don’t want to pay postage or have the recipient pay for postage if it’s no longer good.
When it loses that dark color it is no longer good. It will become a light yellow color. At first it is just the outsides. Break one of the larger pieces and see if it is still dark inside.
I think I will need to open the can and test it before I can give it away…shake the can up to break up the pieces and test it on silver scrap… that will hasten decomposition, as the air seal will be broken…