Fire extinguisher, carbon

Fires involving alkylaluminium compounds are difficult to control and must be treated appropriately to particular circumstances [1,5,6], usually with dry-powder extinguishers. Halocarbon fire extinguishants (carbon tetrachloride, chloro-bromomethane, etc.), water or water-based foam must not be applied to alkylaluminium fires. Carbon dioxide is ineffective unless dilute solutions are involved [5,6], Suitable handling and disposal procedures have been detailed for both laboratory [1,2,5,6,7] and manufacturing [5,6] scales of operation. 

In this fire extinguisher, carbon dioxide is produced by the action of sulfuric acid on a saturated solution of sodium bicarbonate. It has an iron cylinder with a flexible tube. An iron cylinder is filled almost full with sodium bicarbonate solution. Sulfuric acid, in a small glass bottle, is kept in the upper part of the cylinder. The bottle is well supported. 

Portable fire extinguishers (carbon dioxide or chemical types), or other fire protection or suppression systems or devices must be available for fire emergencies at storage installations. Only trained personnel should be allowed to operate fire extinguishers. A flame-producing device must never be used for detection of flammable gas leaks. Either a flammable gas detector or compatible leak detection solution should be used. 

Carbon dioxide is used in the manufacture of sodium carbonate by the ammonia-soda process, urea, salicyclic acid (for aspirin), fire extinguishers and aerated water. Lesser amounts are used to transfer heat generated by an atomic reactor to water and so produce steam and electric power, whilst solid carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, a mixture of solid carbon dioxide and alcohol providing a good low-temperature bath (195 K) in which reactions can be carried out in the laboratory. 

Carbon tetrachloride must not be dried with sodium as an explosion may result. Fire extinguishers containing this solvent (e.g., Pyrene ) cannot therefore be applied to a fire originating from sodium. 

It is usually better to use a fire extinguisher charged with carbon dioxide under pressure this produces a spray of solid carbon dioxide upon releasing the pressure intermittently and is effective for extinguishing most fires in the laboratory. 

Production and Shipment. Estimated adiponitrile production capacities in the U.S. in 1992 were about 625 thousand metric tons and worldwide capacity was in excess of lO metric tons. The DOT/IMO classification for adiponitrile is class 6.1 hazard, UN No. 2205. It requires a POISON label on all containers and is in packing group III. Approved materials of constmction for shipping, storage, and associated transportation equipment are carbon steel and type 316 stainless steel. Either centrifugal or positive displacement pumps may be used. Carbon dioxide or chemical-foam fire extinguishers should be used. There are no specifications for commercial adiponitrile. The typical composition is 99.5 wt % adiponitrile. Impurities that may be present depend on the method of manufacture, and thus, vary depending on the source. 

Shipment. The DOT/IMO shipping information is shown in Table 6. Approved materials of constmction for shipping, storage, and associated transportation equipment are lined carbon steel (DOT spec. 105 S 500W) and type 316 stainless steel. Water spray, carbon dioxide, chemical-foam, or dry-chemical fire extinguishers may be used. 

Flash points and autoignition temperatures are given in Table 11. The vapor can travel along the ground to an ignition source. In the event of fire, foam, carbon dioxide, and dry chemical are preferred extinguishers. The lower and upper explosion limits are 1% and 7%. 

Sodium Bicarbonate. Many soda ash plants convert a portion of their production to sodium bicarbonate [144-55-8], NaHCO. Soda ash is typically dissolved, carbonated, and cooled to crystallize sodium bicarbonate. The mother Hquor is heated and recycled. The soHd bicarbonate is dried in flash or tray driers, screened, and separated into various particle size ranges. Bicarbonate markets include food, pharmaceuticals, catde feed, and fire extinguishers. U.S. demand was approximately 320,000 t in 1989 world demand was estimated at one million metric tons. 

Portable fire extinguishers are classified according to appHcabiHty Class A for soHd combustibles Class B for flammable Hquids Class C for electrical fires that require a nonconducting agent and Class D for combustible metals. Water frequently is used for Class A extinguishers bicarbonates for Class B and Class BC carbon dioxide or Freon for Class C ammonium phosphate for Class ABC and powdered salt, sodium chloride, for Class D. 

When heated to about 60°C, nickel carbonyl explodes. Eor both iron and nickel carbonyl, suitable fire extinguishers are water, foam, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical. Large amounts of iron pentacarbonyl also have been reported to ignite spontaneously (189). Solutions of molybdenum carbonyl have been reported to be capable of spontaneous detonation (190). The toxicity of industrial chemicals including metal carbonyls may be found in references 191-194. 

Fire Hazard. Although chlorosulfuric acid itself is not dammable, it may cause ignition by contact with combustible materials because of the heat of reaction. Open fires, open lights, and matches should not be used in or around tanks or containers where hydrogen gas may be collected because of the action of chlorosulfuric acid on metals. Water, carbon dioxide, and dry-chemical fire extinguishers should be kept readily available. 

If an ethyl ether fire occurs, carbon dioxide, carbon tetrachloride, and dry chemical fire extinguishers meeting National Eire Prevention Association Code 1 and 2 requirements may be used successhiUy (23). Water may also be effectively appHed (see Plant safety). Hose streams played into open tanks of burning ethyl ether serve only to scatter the Hquid and spread the fire. However, ether fires may be extinguished by a high pressure water spray that cools the burning surface and smothers the fire. Automatic sprinklers and deluge systems are also effective. 

Liquid carbon dioxide is discussed on page 261. Carbon dioxide gas is commonly used for carbonating drinks, in fire extinguishers, for gas-shielding of welding and in shell moulding in foundries. Its physical and toxicological properties are summarized in Tables 8.5, 8.6 and 5.29. 

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