Methodology: Part II
To complete this research on the cyanide compound content in
various camp facilities, we decided to carry out several
pilotage experiments. The renovation of the Institute
building, just in progress, provided us with materials for
this investigation. We divided particular constituents of
these materials (bricks, cement, mortar and plaster) into
several 3-4 gram pieces and placed them to glass chambers,
in which we generated hydrogen cyanide by reacting potassium
cyanide and sulphuric acid. We used high concentrations of
this gas (about 2%) and wetted some of the samples with
water. Fumigation took 48 hours at a temperature of about
20°C (Table V). Another series of samples were treated with
hydrogen cyanide as well, but now in the presence of carbon
dioxide. According to calculations, in the chambers in which
people had been gassed the carbon dioxide content produced
in the breathing process of the victims was rather high and
in relation to hydrogen cyanide may have been even as high
as 10:1. In our experiment we applied these two gases (CO²
and HCN) in the 5:1 ratio. Having been subjected to gassing,
the samples were aired in the open air at a temperature of
about 10-15°C. The first analysis was conducted 48 hours
after the beginning of airing.
This series of tests allows the statement that mortar
absorbs and/or binds hydrogen cyanide best and also that wet
materials show a noticeable tendency to accumulate hydrogen
cyanide whereas brick, especially old brick, poorly absorbs
and/or binds this compound.
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