[CH] Capsaicin
Robert Pace (chronos@eastky.net)
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 12:38:28 -0500
Without dilution of Capsaicin I do not see what the purpose would be.
Becase raw capsaicin is not something one is going to ingest and live to
even tell about it. Capsaicin in its purest form is probably one of the
most noxious and caustic chemicals one could think of. It would first of
all deliver chemical burns on contact with skin. Bear repellent can be up
to 20% Capsaicin. Peppers are to me like Vinegar, both are very good in all
forms of cooking, but glacial acetic acid is very dangerous acid to work
with as is capsaicin. Even a chemist with all the protective gear and
training would be on his toes handling either Glacial Acetic Acid or pure
Capsaicin. And the distillation of capsaicin with the intended purpose of
producing a near 100% pure capsaicin is still a mystery to me. Pure
capsaicin is a very hazardous material, the word extreme irritant is like an
understatement.
At one time I made the mistake of trying to make a nice habanero sauce and I
put two dozen habaneros in a food processor with some vinegar and salt and I
tell ya the fumes were choking, I had to evacuate the premises and let it
air out before I could even get back into the house. And if a habanero has
less than 10% Capsaicin I can just imagine what working with a higher conc.
solution would be like.
And then if one did want to dilute it down (pure capsaicin), the point would
arise to how low a concentration? If one did go to say a 10% solution of
Capsaicin then wouldn't the peppers which yield that 10% solution still be a
better choice as it would add not only the capsaicin but the flavour of the
pepper too.
Producing a compound in ones home for the purpose of consumption which is a
high level hazmat material is inconcievable.
I might like things hot, but I myself am not going to have myself on the 6
O'clock news with guys in rubber suits evacuating neighbors either LOL.
I think I even have the MSDS for Capsaicin somewhere detailing its toxicity.
I saw this quote on a website which I like:
"Please bear in mind that Capsaicin is an extreme irritant and is hazardous
to health as both a chemical burn agent and as a poison when in its purer
concentrated forms. Only a fool or a chemist would want to undertake the
above procedure
" -- http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~gcaselton/chile/scoville.html
--
Rob
QuePID / DalNet
chronos@eastky.net
www.quepid.org
--