Practices for Proper Chemical Storage. Office of Environmental Health & Safety

Transcription

1 Practices fr Prper Chemical Strage Office f Envirnmental Health & Safety August, 2005

2 Intrductin Prper strage is needed t minimize the hazards assciated with accidentally mixing incmpatible chemicals. D nt srt and stre chemicals alphabetically unless they have first been separated int hazard classes. Additinal guidelines n string chemicals accrding t their hazard classes are presented later in this sectin. Basic Guidelines Observe the fllwing general strage guidelines: In general, chemicals shuld be separated accrding t the fllwing categries: Slvents, which include flammable/cmbustible liquids and halgenated hydrcarbns (e.g., acetne, benzene, ethers, alchls) Nte: Stre glacial acetic acid as a flammable liquid Inrganic mineral acids (e.g., nitric, sulfuric, hydrchlric, and perchlric acids). Bases (e.g., sdium hydrxide, ammnium hydrxide) Oxidizers Pisns Explsives r unstable reactive chemicals such as picric acid. Stre separately utdrs in flammable strage cabinets Ensure that caps and lids n all chemical cntainers are tightly clsed t prevent evapratin f cntents. Stre all hazardus liquid chemicals in drip trays that are chemically resistant.

3 Avid string chemicals n cuntertps r in fume hds except fr thse being currently used. Label all cntainers (squeeze bttles) t which hazardus materials are transferred with the identity f the substance and its hazards. Be aware that squeeze bttles have varying resistances t different chemicals. Sme can frm perxide crystals that can lead t deteriratin and degradatin f cntainer integrity. Limit the amunt f chemicals stred t the minimum required. Avid expsure f chemicals t heat r direct sunlight. This may lead t the deteriratin f strage cntainers as well as the degradatin f the chemicals. Use apprved crrsive strage cabinets (cnstructed f chemically resistant cmpnents) fr string acids and bases. Use flammable strage cabinets t stre flammable liquids. Existing cabinets shwing signs f interir crrsin shuld be replaced and chemicals present shuld be evaluated fr cmpatibility. Refrigeratrs used fr string chemicals, samples r media must be labeled with wrds t the effect as fllws: Cautin D Nt Stre Fd Or Beverages In This Refrigeratr. Labels may be fabricated by users prvided they are legible and securely affixed t the refrigeratr.

4 Refrigeratrs and freezers fr string flammable liquids (including ethanl) must be designed, cnstructed and apprved fr that purpse. Dmestic refrigeratr/freezers as well as units that have been mdified t remve spark surces are nt acceptable alternatives. Strage Based n Hazard Class The fllwing guidelines are prvided fr the safe strage f hazardus materials in accrdance with their hazard classes (cnsult Envirnmental Health & Safety fr additinal guidance): Acids Segregate acids frm reactive metals such as sdium, ptassium, magnesium, etc. Segregate xidizing acids frm rganic acids, flammable and cmbustible materials. Segregate acids frm chemicals which culd generate txic r flammable gases upn cntact, such as sdium cyanide, irn sulfide, calcium carbide, etc. Segregate acids frm bases. Bases Segregate bases frm acids, metals, explsives, rganic perxides and easily ignitable materials.

5 Slvents (Flammable and Halgenated Slvents) Stre in apprved safety cans r cabinets. Segregate frm xidizing acids and xidizers. Keep away frm any surce f ignitin (heat, sparks, r pen flames). Oxidizers Stre in a cl, dry place. Keep away frm cmbustible and flammable materials. Keep away frm reducing agents such as zinc, alkali metals, and frmic acid. Cyanides Segregate frm acids and xidizers. Water Reactive Chemicals Stre in a cl, dry place away frm any water surce. Make certain that a Class D fire extinguisher is available in case f fire. Pyrphric Substance (Materials which will react with the air t ignite when expsed, e.g., white phsphrus.) Stre in a cl, dry place making prvisins fr an airtight seal. Light Sensitive Chemicals Stre in amber bttles in a cl, dry, dark place. Perxide Frming Chemicals Stre in airtight cntainers in a dark, cl, and dry place. Label cntainers with receiving, pening, and dispsal dates. Peridically test fr the presence f perxides. Txic Chemicals Stre accrding t the nature f the chemical, using apprpriate security where necessary.

6 (Frm "Safe Chemical Strage: A Pund f Preventin is Wrth a Tn f Truble" by David Pipitne and Dnald Hedberg, Jurnal f Chemical Educatin, Vlume 59, Number 5, May 1982 and "Fire Prtectin Guide n Hazardus Materials," NFPA, 1978.) Knw the prperties f the chemicals used. Material Safety Data Sheets It is imprtant fr labratry persnnel t thrughly research the prperties f the chemicals they are using. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) have sectins n chemical incmpatibility. The cntainer's label shuld als prvide strage guidelines. Chemwatch Faculty and students have access t Chemwatch, an n-line chemical MSDS database. Chemwatch is a relatively users friendly database. It was acquired fr yur use as a labratry/chemical safety tl in prviding access t infrmatin fr thusands f Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) fr chemicals. All yu need t get in is a University issued IP address t access the Chemwatch database. General functin keys (back, print, search, etc ) can be accessed using the blue keys/tlbar at the tp left crner. As yu pass yur cursr ver them their functins are identified. The blue key with the small letter a is the language key that allws yu t chse viewing the infrmatin frm apprximately twenty (20) different languages. Chemwatch Database access: 1. G the t the Envirnmental Health and Safety website ( it may be accessed using the A- Z link ff f the main CSU page (under Envirnmental Health and Safety) 2. Once yu are n the Envirnmental Health and Safety website, simply click n the link in the center f the page that says Chemwatch Access and yu are in. 3. After a few secnds, a screen will appear and a trailer will pass acrss the screen, indicating that the default mde has changed and that yu are in the simple mde mve yur cursr ver t the bx n the left side f the screen that has the heading: Mde. Click n the tp buttn with the graduatin hat yu are nw in the advanced mde and the trailer disappears. 4. Type the Name r CAS number f any chemical in the space under the heading Chemgld II and click n Search after a few secnds a windw with the heading Chemwatch List will appear cntaining all chemical names that include the ne yu typed in.

7 5. Chse the particular chemical and a summary f infrmatin frm the MSDS will appear. T view the entire MSDS, mve yur cursr t the left side f the screen and click n the MSDS buttn t bring up an MSDS. If yu are lking fr an MSDS frm a specific manufacturer, click n the SUPPLIER MSDS 6. Once yu have perfrmed a search a chsen a particular chemical, a set f keys appear n the left f the screen their identity and functin are as fllws: a. Mini MSDS Cntains select infrmatin frm an MSDS such as Prperties, Health Hazards, Precautins fr use, etc cmpressed nt ne page. b. MSDS Cntains the full MSDS fr the chsen chemical. Chemwatch defaults t the first MSDS frm the manufacturers listed alphabetically c. Summary Cntains select infrmatin frm an MSDS including Persnal Prtective Equipment, Risk statements, safety statements, etc This is the screen that first appears fllwing a requested search fr a particular chemical d. MSDS++ - Nt active e. Supplier MSDS Chemwatch will prvide a list f all manufacturer s that have an MSDS fr the chsen chemical as part f the Chemwatch database f. Sectins chsing this will activate a menu n the right side f yur screen that cntains the heading f every sectin f an MSDS and yu can select a particular sectin heading, (Identificatin, Supplier, Use, physical prperties, etc ) g. Ntes allws the user t enter any infrmatin they desire regarding the particular chemical they have searched fr, perhaps relative t a particular experiment they are wrking n. h. Labels prvides a template f labels fr yu t chse and print ut frm that can be included in reprts r even affixed t chemical bttles i. Mlecule this feature allws yu t view mlecular structures Hwever, a particular sftware package (Csm Player) is required and can be dwnladed at n cst j. Mngraphs this prvides a list f articles that cntain infrmatin relative t the chsen chemical frm such rganizatins as the Envirnmental Prtectin Agency, the Natinal Institute f Safety and Health, Centers fr Disease Cntrl, etc k. Envirnment prvides infrmatin relating t the impact f the chsen chemical n the envirnment

8 Chemical Strage - Incmpatible Chemicals Certain hazardus chemicals shuld nt be mixed r stred with ther chemicals because a severe reactin can take place r an extremely txic reactin prduct can result. The label and MSDS will cntain infrmatin n incmpatibilities. The fllwing incmpatibility matrix and table cntains examples f incmpatible chemicals: Chemical Incmpatibility Matrix Acids, Oxidizers Pisns, Water Inrganic Oxidizing Organic (Bases) inrganic rganic reactives slvents Acids, Inrganic Acids, Oxidizing Acids, Organic X Alkalis (Bases) Oxidizers X X X X Pisns, inrganic Pisns, rganic Water reactives Organic slvents X X X X X X = Nt cmpatible d nt stre tgether

9 CHEMICAL Acetic Acid Acetne Acetylene Alkali Metals Ammnia, anhydrus KEEP OUT OF CONTACT WITH Chrmic acid, nitric acid, hydrxyl cmpunds, ethylene glycl, perchlric acid, perxides, permanganates Cncentrated nitric and sulfuric acid mixtures, and strng bases Chlrine, brmine, cpper, flurine, silver, mercury Water, carbn tetrachlride r ther chlrinated hydrcarbns, carbn dixide, the halgens Mercury, chlrine, calcium hypchlrite, idine, brmine, hydrfluric acid Ammnium Nitrate Acids, metal pwders, flammable liquids, chlrates, nitrites, sulfur, finely divided rganic r cmbustible materials Aniline Nitric acid, hydrgen perxide Arsenic materials Any reducing agent Azides Acids Brmine Same as chlrine Calcium Oxide Water Carbn (activated). Calcium hypchlrite, all xidizing agents Carbn tetrachlride Sdium Chlrates Ammnium salts, acids, metal pwders, sulfur, finely divided rganic r cmbustible materials Chrmic Acid and Chrmium trixide Chlrine Acetic acid, naphthalene, camphr, glycerl, glycerin, turpentine, alchl, flammable liquids in general Ammnia, acetylene, butadiene, butane, methane, prpane (r ther petrleum gases), hydrgen, sdium carbide, turpentine, benzene, finely divided metals

10 Chlrine Dixide Cpper Cumene Hydrperxide Cyanides Flammable Liquids Hydrcarbns Hydrcyanic Acid Hydrfluric Acid Hydrgen Perxide Hydrgen Sulfide Hypchlrites Idine Mercury Nitrates Nitric Acid (cncentrated) Nitrites Nitrparaffins Oxalic Acid Oxygen Ammnia, methane, phsphine, hydrgen sulfide Acetylene, hydrgen perxide Acids, rganic r inrganic Acids Ammnium nitrate, chrmic acid, hydrgen perxide, nitric acid, sdium perxide, halgens Flurine, chlrine, brmine, chrmic acid, sdium perxide Nitric acid, alkali Ammnia, aqueus r anhydrus Cpper, chrmium, irn, mst metals r their salts, alchls, acetne, rganic materials, aniline, nitrmethane, flammable liquids Fuming nitric acid, ther acids, xidizing gases, acetylene, ammnia (aqueus r anhydrus), hydrgen Acids, activated carbn Acetylene, ammnia (aqueus r anhydrus), hydrgen Acetylene, fulminic acid, ammnia Sulfuric acid Acetic acid, aniline, chrmic acid, hydrcyanic acid, hydrgen sulfide, flammable liquids, flammable gases, cpper, brass, any heavy metals Acids Inrganic bases, amines Silver, mercury Oils, grease, hydrgen; flammable liquids, slids, r gases

11 Perchlric Acid Perxides, rganic Phsphrus (white) Ptassium Ptassium chlrate and perchlrate Ptassium Permanganate Selenides Silver Sdium Sdium nitrite Sdium Perxide Sulfides Sulfuric Acid Tellurides Acetic anhydride, bismuth and its allys, alchl, paper, wd, grease and ils Acids (rganic r mineral), avid frictin, stre cld Air, xygen, alkalis, reducing agents Carbn tetrachlride, carbn dixide, water Sulfuric and ther acids Glycerin, ethylene glycl, benzaldehyde, sulfuric acid Reducing agents Acetylene, xalic acid, tartaric acid, ammnium cmpunds, fulminic acid Carbn tetrachlride, carbn dixide, water Ammnium nitrate and ther ammnium salts Ethyl r methyl alchl, glacial acetic acid, acetic anhydride, benzaldehyde, carbn disulfide, glycerin, ethylene glycl, ethyl acetate, methyl acetate, furfural Acids Ptassium chlrate, ptassium perchlrate, ptassium permanganate (r cmpunds with similar light metals, such as sdium, lithium, etc.) Reducing agents (Frm Manufacturing Chemists' Assciatin, Guide fr Safety in the Chemical Labratry, pp , Van Nstrand Reinhld, 2nd Editin.) Acknwledgements: Envirnmental Health and Safety Divisin, Ernest Orland Lawrence Berkely Natinal Labratry