Carbon Tetrachloride

[luckyeight]

Does anyone know where I can buy some? Thanks. Don't know what section to put this in!

[Buenchico]

I can accept that you might not know exactly where to put your question but I think that 'Food & Drink' might be the most inappropriate of all of the categories ;-)

Tetrachloromethane (or carbon tetrachloride as some people still call it) is highly toxic. It can cause damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys. It's also carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and ozone-depleting. 'Food & drink' it most definitely is not!

Tetrachloromethane used to be used as a dry-cleaning agent and was sold in shops under the brand name 'Dabitoff'. With increasing awareness of its dangers, the USA has made possession of tetrachloromethane (without a licence) a criminal offence. In the EU there are a limited number of suppliers who can provide the product to university laboratories and other bodies who may have a legitimate use for the compound (and who can also meet the requirements of the Health & Safety Executive) but otherwise, it's (rightly) impossible to get hold of.

Chris

[Keeprockin]

It used to be used in old fire extinguishers. Going back a lot of years,so maybe it isn't now. Think it was the old hand pump ones that hung on walls. We used to squirt a little in a jar and use it to clean tape heads. Reading that article from BUENCHICO as surprised me,glad I didn't know that information back then

[heathfield]

Carbon tetrachloride was once used to clean weapons in British Army armouries. There's a well-known case where an armourer sergeant was diagnosed with severe cirrhosis of the liver. For ages he was suspected of being a secret drinker, and no-one would believe him when he denied it. Then it finally clicked with the medics that maybe it was the constant exposure to the tetrachloride. And so it proved to be. Not nice stuff

[luckyeight]

It's an invaluable househould cleaning product, that's why I require some. Knew it would have banned by HSE - anything that's remotely effective eg matches, has got to be instantly made less effective. Those safety matches are so dangerous - the match heads fly off and stick to your fingertips. I won't use them.
So by the same token there's not product available that I can buy which contains this chemical? Grrrrrr.
Thanks for rather hectoring answers! lol

[Gef]

lucky, there are lots of alternatives. Tell us what you want it for?

[luckyeight]

Hi again gef - well I wondered if there might be an alternative product - I use it for removing stubborn adhesive stains / chewing gum. It works when nothing else does, but I'm coming to the end of my illicit supply! I don't know of a licensed equivalent, but would love to hear a recommendation as it sounds like the chemical is unattainable unless I steal it from a lab or something ;)

[chezan]

I recently used DeSolvit aerosol to remove blu-tac from my carpet - worked well - worth a try, can be bought "legally" from Morrisons @ �1.99

[BBWCHATT]

To remove an adhesive stain - cover in olive/vegetable oil overnight and wipe it off the next morning. Sounds too simple to work - but it does.