On the long term stability of SN (10 years+)

[thesighofleaves]

There seems to be conflicting to little information on the long term stability of SN. I'm starting this thread for users who have had it for 5 years or more (the longer the better), or who intend to store SN for a long time, to compile information from other commenters and post anecdotes. I hope it can be of use to others.

Why store long term?
SN is becoming harder and harder to get. Some people want to ensure they have access to a peaceful method before it fully goes the way of N, but also aren't ready to leave right now. For example, maybe they want 'insurance' if something extraordinarily bad happens, or they just give up on this life thing. Either way, laws are being railroaded in several places in the US and other places as it is that will make it impossible to get in the future.

Can SN be stored long term?
That's the rub. I've seen a few posts from people who have stored it for 4.5 years and it was still potent and fresh, and from a few who have stored it for that same amount of time and it was no longer usable.

Disclaimer
I do not currently own SN. All of this is information gathered from others. This is my attempt to research what's viable and possible and whether I should come to terms and give up on SN as a method or not.

What I've found so far

For the long term stability of SN, it must be sealed in an airtight, glass, hermetically sealed jar, with as little exposure to air as possible and NO moisture, for max effectiveness.

This seems to hold true from the few comments I've found of people who have had long term success, or talked about what this would look like.

Types of jars
A glass jar, ideally, and a brown tinted one to minimize light exposure as much as possible. I saw reagent bottles were recommended, and they do come tinted in brown. Seems easily acquired on amazon.

Airtight-ness
The bottles should be filled as much as possible with the SN. Stuff like cotton shouldn't be added to fill the space if there's extra space.

Hermetic sealing
I haven't been able to find much info on how to do this on my own yet, other than a suggestion to dip the bottle in multiple, like a dozen layers of melted candle wax.

Briefly opening
It seems opening the original SN container for a brief amount of time, for example, to pour it into something else, is fine and it won't degrade the SN for at least 4 or so years. Longer than this is as yet unknown.

Sources
Please note I'm not versed in anything that gives me any kind of authority. I'm only gathering in one place information I have found in other comments. I strongly urge anyone who has been storing SN for years a time to comment here especially if they are able to test their SN.

Here are the places I've been able to find info from so far:

@bed's initial post and thread on this

Stability of SN and N

I'd like to preface this to hopefully help people not make rash decisions due to the fear that their suicide method will go "bad" and they feel forced to take it before they truly want to. Freedom of choice means everything. There is a lot of misconception on here about how long both of these...

sanctioned-suicide.net

SN is good for a minimum of 3 years when stored correctly:

https://ingredi.com/content/pdfs/Sodium_Nitrite_Shelf_Life.pdf

Reddit threads suggesting it is indefinitely good when stored correctly (beware the close-minded comments in the second link)



Other comments from bed's thread:

@Argo in losing SN effectiveness almost completely by not storing it in something air tight: https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/stability-of-sn-and-n.151639/#post-2359662

Stability of SN and N

Proper storage seems important or the SN can go bad. I had a container of 99%+ reagent grade SN with a malfunctioning cap that allowed the plastic bottle to give under pressure(Non-air tight seal) sitting undisturbed for 5 years. The SN degraded into Nitrate almost entirely (5-10% SN content) in...

sanctioned-suicide.net

@Stayhomestaysafe sucessfully storing for over 5 years with testing to confirm

Stability of SN and N

But would the vacuum sealed bag be enough or would it go bad if it's not put in a second container? I assume it's probably stored like that for a long time anyway and ships that way so probably but does anyone know in more detail I think its fine as long as it remains in the sealed bag.

sanctioned-suicide.net

@Relic 's experience in successfully storing SN for 4 and 1/2 years (and testing it) as well as purposefully storing some in as bad a manner as possible to test/compare longevity

Stability of SN and N

Proper storage seems important or the SN can go bad. I had a container of 99%+ reagent grade SN with a malfunctioning cap that allowed the plastic bottle to give under pressure(Non-air tight seal) sitting undisturbed for 5 years. The SN degraded into Nitrate almost entirely (5-10% SN content) in...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

Proper storage seems important or the SN can go bad. I had a container of 99%+ reagent grade SN with a malfunctioning cap that allowed the plastic bottle to give under pressure(Non-air tight seal) sitting undisturbed for 5 years. The SN degraded into Nitrate almost entirely (5-10% SN content) in...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

So let's say for example, in about 5 years? A hermetically sealed brown glass jar. Lid can be metal, but has to be isolated from the salt. If you want some peace of mind, this is it. Reddit comments said that it's not a big deal and that you could throw it in the trash (in a sealed bag...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

True but that could've been that their sn may have been something else from the start but this establishes that sealed sn in a closet will be just fine for a long time. Everything is possible. Back then the main concern was purity, storage was secondary. Also when someone tested their source...

sanctioned-suicide.net

Stability of SN and N

True but that could've been that their sn may have been something else from the start but this establishes that sealed sn in a closet will be just fine for a long time. Everything is possible. Back then the main concern was purity, storage was secondary. Also when someone tested their source...

sanctioned-suicide.net

 

[R. A.]

Thanks for this. Without opening all the links, a real concern for me is the source conditions - it's one thing for stuff coming from an ideal lab environment to last x amount of time, but most of us get it from...less scrupulous sources. I got mine from IC nearly 3 years back and damned if I know what kind of environment Ken was running his operation in.

Sure it worked when people were using it fresh, and 3 years is roughly in line with what was written on the package (which mine has been in unopened since receiving), but beyond that I get a bit antsy. Realistically it's not immediately "ineffective" past the day because it degrades over time and 25g is well over the LD50; it's probably a lot more like food expiration labels which for the most part guarantee quality, not "eating this will kill you" (if only!).

 

[thesighofleaves]

Thanks for this. Without opening all the links, a real concern for me is the source conditions - it's one thing for stuff coming from an ideal lab environment to last x amount of time, but most of us get it from...less scrupulous sources. I got mine from IC nearly 3 years back and damned if I know what kind of environment Ken was running his operation in.

Sure it worked when people were using it fresh, and 3 years is roughly in line with what was written on the package (which mine has been in unopened since receiving), but beyond that I get a bit antsy. Realistically it's not immediately "ineffective" past the day because it degrades over time and 25g is well over the LD50; it's probably a lot more like food expiration labels which for the most part guarantee quality, not "eating this will kill you" (if only!).

Thanks, and yeah, I agree. Honestly my hope is that, because there will always be people who want to ctb, there will be ongoing discoveries of new things that can be accessed once SN is no longer accessible, but it's a long shot kind of hope :/