[gzec]

The general public seems to believe that as long as you have a hot wood fire in a 55 gallon drum before using it for a custom barbacue, you will not get any contamination from what ever was once in the drum.  What do you chemistry people think?  Any specific chemicals that aren't effected by temps below 800 degrees?

[nj_bartel]

Heavy metals.

[Matias Ekstrand]

Salts could melt but should not evaporate at < 800^o

[DrCMS]

It all depends what was in the drum to begin with.

[billnotgatez]

i suspect a drum that once had water in it would be ok

[gzec]

The purpose of my post is because I have a drum that I have no idea what was in it. It could have had the worst possible ingredients or it could of had water?  The question is, do most things get burned off with a 500 degree fire in the barrel?  Would you guys use a barrel like this, with a mystery background?  I am kind of surprised that it is not an overwhelming response to not use it for cooking!

[Matias Ekstrand]

Any residues of carbon based compounds which has been in the barrel will of course be combusted and may create things you shouldn't breathe. This should however only happen during the first minute of burning and won't affect your food.

I'd be more worried if you filled the barrel with water and boiled things in it than if you used it for fire. If you make sure you can't see residues of whatever was previously in the barrel, you shouldn't have to worry about it due to the low amounts. If you want to be on the safe side, clean it out with water/soap before you use it to remove most hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds.

[billnotgatez]

I know a food quality assurance person that would never trust a barrel that held pesticide.