The Rotten Egg Test: Why Our Glow Powder Doesn't Stink (Literally)
How can we ensure our powder is pure enough for your next biohack? It's a matter of trust. And I trust nobody. This is why every powder from every supplier and every batch gets tested for 'olfactory quality control'.
Step 1: The Crush
First, we take a sample of the finished powder and grind it in a ceramic mortar and pestle. We're not gentle. We intentionally and thoroughly crush the silica shells to expose the raw strontium aluminate core within. If there’s a contaminant, we want it to have nowhere to hide.
Step 2: The Acid Bath
Next, we whip up a weak acidic solution. We dissolve 10g of powdered citric acid into 90mL of distilled water. (For DIYers out there, concentrated lemon juice works, too.)
Step 3: Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble
Finally, we place the crushed powder in a container and carefully (or just send it, who cares) drip our citric acid solution onto it. Then we watch for a reaction, or, rather, we smell for one.
Science, Bitches!
If our powder were a cheaply-made imitation contaminated with zinc sulfide, the moment that acid hit, you'd see—and smell—a chemical reaction. It would look like this:
3ZnS+2C6H8O7→Zn3(C6H5O7)2+3H2S
The citric acid (C6H8O7) would react with the zinc sulfide (ZnS). It would effectively steal the zinc to form zinc citrate (a harmless salt) and leave the now-lonely sulfur to bond with hydrogen from the acid. This creates the infamous, foul-smelling, and toxic hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas. You know those prank videos where someone sprays fart spray into an inflatable costume?
You just did that to yourself. Enjoy.
Conclusion
When we perform this test on our powder, the result is... nothing. No fizzing. No bubbling. And most importantly, not the faintest whiff of rotten eggs. All we're left with is perfectly inert, 'wet' powder instead of a wet fart.
No rotten egg smell, no fizzing, means no zinc sulfide. Simple as that.
Have questions about our process or want to see the quality for yourself? Check out our Biosafe Glowing Powder or drop a question in the comments below!
