Acetylene shipment

Meanwhile, a very important, new use for acetylene had been developed, oxy-acetylene welding and cutting. The oxy-acetylene became popular because it gave a temperature of 6,000 to 7,000° F. contrasted with 4,000, the maximum attainable with the oxy-hydrogen flame. This application stimulated the invention of a safe method of compression acetylene to facilitate its storage and shipment. The challenge was met by the Prest-O-Lite Company, who devised a method involving the compression of acetylene to 300 p.s.i. into a cylinder packed with a solid absorbent saturated with. acetone. 

Acetone is used in the manufacture of acetate rayon, photographic film, explosives, and is used as a solvent for absorbing acetylene gas for storage and shipment in gas cylinders. Methyl ethyl ketone is used in the production of smokeless powder, printing inks, degreasing and cleaning fluids, antioxidants, perfumes, and catalysts. 

Under DOT and TC regulations, a cylinder meeting any one specification may be authorized for shipping a number of different gases, or any one gas may be authorized for shipment in a number of different specification cylinders. This differs from the previous European practice in which a cylinder is marked for dedicated service for a single designated gas. The one exception in North American practice involves acetylene that is authorized for shipment as a dissolved... 

Acetylene can be liquefied and solidified with relative ease. However, in both the liquid and solid states, acetylene is shock sensitive and explodes with extreme violence when ignited. For this reason, DOT and TC regulations prohibit the shipment of liquid or solidified acetylene. A mixture of gaseous acetylene with air or oxygen in certain proportions explodes if ignited. Gaseous acetylene under pressure may... 

Under the appropriate DOT and TC regulations, acetylene is authorized for shipment as follows [10, 11] ... 

Only cylinders that meet TC/DOT specifications 8 or 8AL or 8WC, and also meet requirements for fillings of a porous material and a suitable solvent, can be used for acetylene service. DOT/TC regulations prohibit shipment of cylinders containing acetylene gas unless they were charged by or with the consent of the owner. A periodic requalification of acetylene cylinders is required by DOT and is described in CGA C-13, Guidelines for Periodic Visual Inspection and Requalification of Acetylene Cylinders [14]. 

Ethylene oxide is authorized for shipment in cylinders prescribed for any compressed gas, except acetylene, which meet the special requirements outlined in 49 CFR 173.323 and CAN/CSA B340, which includes requirements for pressure relief devices [8, 14]. 

EXAMPLE 9.12 Reaction of You have just ordered a cyhnder of acetylene but are concerned that it might react during shipment to form benzene. Consider the reaction of acetylene to form benzene ... 

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