Randy: My question is, why can the EPA not allow beekeepers to mix their own
oxalic acid, so long as they follow label directions so as not to
contaminate honey or cause adverse effects to the hive?
I agree with Medhat. Also, as any chemistry instructor in high school or college will tell you, people often don't follow instructions, especially when it comes to handling acids - or much of anything else.
Rubber aprons, gloves, face-shields, why bother?
Early in my career, I digested bee samples using sealed 'pyrex' glass tubes, and later, 'Teflon' digestion vessels (bombs), into a water-clear extract, using fuming perchloric acid, under a perchloric acid hood. Periodically, we had to climb on the roof and wash the hood. We also had to be vigilant to look for pepper-like, black flacks forming in the digest.
The glass tubes were placed into metal pipes for 'safety'. before placing it in an oven. The improved Teflon vessels had to be closed using a torque-wrench and then placed inside a 1/4" thick Lexan 'cake' cover, which was bolted to its base, before digesting in a microwave oven. We worked with the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST) on the methods.
If you want something scary to do with acid, this is the job for you.
Obviously, we extensively trained our employees, and I mostly did the digestions, or my laboratory manager did (she was great at making and sealing pyrex tubes). However, one day I walked into the lab and one of the students had his nose to the glass door of the microwave. He said "I'm glad you are here"; "look at this vessel". I literally felt terror - inside on the carousel were a dozen teflon digestive vessels, and several were bulging!! We had a very specific protocol for microwave settings and timing. He'd just hit the button on high heat and let it go!!
My response, I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the microwave, hit the stop button, and cleared the lab. To this day, I've not found a better way to thoroughly digest bee tissue. Chitin is tough. I was thrilled when the Gastonia laboratory started talking about and using QuEChERS.
I am not interested in going back to boiling perchloric acid in sealed vessels.
Also, as per human safety and acids, if one has not taken a chemistry lab, they often do not know or forget the adage "Do as you Oughter (or Otter), add the Acid to the Water". Reverse that order, and you'll soon discover why agencies like EPA don't want people mixing acid brews.
Jerry
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