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Old PGC

I have a small (1/4 oz) bottle of Potassium Gold Cyanide dispensed by the Mandalay pharmacy on Clearwater Bch about 50 years ago. Dark brown bottle, black bakelite screw top, labled 67% gold and POISON, I have not tried to open it! My father was a chemist, then a physician, and this must be left over from his days of gold-plating coins and other small silver for our amazement as kids. I love the vintage bottle but, am wondering whether and how to store or dispose of the contents (or the whole thing). Is it dangerous to have around? (Grandkids, foster kids...) My preference is to preserve Dad's things, but not if something is too unsafe. As such, I got rid of some dusty old bullets and ammo at the police station. I know this isn't an industry question, but any expert info at all will be appreciated.

Julie Gray
hobbyist - Dunedin, FL, US
January 9, 2008

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First of two simultaneous responses -- January 16, 2008

Find the nearest shop that does gold plating and offer them the contents of the bottle for $1.00. That is a technicality to keep you from being charged with improper waste disposal of a cyanide. Ask them to clean the bottle to the point that the kids can drink out of it. (do not actually use it for that)
With gold at $900 a troy ounce and gold cyanide even higher, most will be happy to give you a buck. (even without an assay)
This is a win-win for everyone and the environment.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

You could see if a plating shop that plates gold in your area would want it. If they don't want to put the salt in their gold bath, they could save it to be refined when the gold bath goes out for refining. With the price of gold being what it is today, they should gladly accept it. PGC is potassium gold cyanide and extremely poisionous, and of course precautions should be made accordingly. It would be difficult to sell because an assay would be required by any buyer to determine the actual worth. Good Luck!

Mark Baker
Process Engineer - Syracuse, New York
January 16, 2008