Fire, methanol

Unlike gasoline fires, methanol fires and ethanol fires may be extinguished using water. 

The transparency of methanol flames is usually a safety advantage in racing. In the event of fires, drivers have some visibiUty and the lower heat release rate of methanol provides less danger for drivers, pit crews, and spectators. 

Partly for these reasons, methanol has been the required fuel of the IndianapoHs 500 since 1965. Methanol is also used in many other professional and amateur races. However, transparency of the methanol flames has also been a disadvantage in some race track fires. The invisibiUty of the flame has confused pit crews, delayed fire detection, and caused even trained firefighters problems in locating and extinguishing fires. 

The fire ha2ard of methanol appears to be substantially smaller than the fire ha2ard of gasoline, although considerably greater than the fire ha2ard of diesel fuel. The lack of luminosity of a methanol flame is stiH a concern to some, and M85 (or some other methanol fuel with an additive for flame luminosity) may become the standard fuel for this reason. 

Steam Reformings of Natural Gas. This route accounts for at least 80% of the world s methanol capacity. A steam reformer is essentially a process furnace in which the endothermic heat of reaction is provided by firing across tubes filled with a nickel-based catalyst through which the reactants flow. Several mechanical variants are available (see Ammonia). 

Methanol does not pose an undue toxicity hazard if handled in weU-ventilated areas, and is rated as a slight health hazard by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The TLV is 200 ppm with a STEL of 250 ppm, and the limit which is immediately dangerous to Hfe and health is 25,000 ppm. Accidental ingestion is immediately treated by inducing vomiting, followed by adrninistration of sodium bicarbonate. Rinsing with water is effective in treating external exposure. 

Methanol is stable under normal storage conditions. Methanol is not subject to hazardous polymerization reactions, but can react violendy with strong oxidizing agents. The greatest hazard involved in handling methanol is the danger of fire or explosion. The NFPA classifies methanol as a serious fire hazard. 

Direct hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas in a fuel oil gasification plant to a combustion unit to prevent its release. 4. Consider using purge gases from the synthesis process to fire the reformer strip condensates to reduce ammonia and methanol. 5. Use carbon dioxide removal processes that do not release toxics to the environment. When monoethanolamine (MEA) or other processes, such as hot potassium carbonate, are used in carbon dioxide removal, proper operation and maintenance procedures should be followed to minimize releases to the environment. 

Fire Hazards - Flash Point (deg. F) 182 CC (based on solution of 37 % fonnaldehyde and Methanol free), 122 CC (based on solution with 15 % Methanol) Flammable Limits in Air (%) 7.0 - 73 Fire Extinguishing Ageras Water, diy chemical, carbon dioxide, or alcohol foam Fire Extinguishing Agents Not To Be Used No data or recommendations found Special Hazards of Combustion Products Toxic vapors form Behavior in Fire Not pertinent Ignition Temperature (deg. F) 806 Electrical Hazard Not pertinent Burning Rate Not pertinent. 

Methanol is a dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame, and a moderate expl hazard when exposed to flame. It is a dangerous disaster hazard upon exposure to heat or flame, and can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. Methanol possesses distinct narcotic props, and is also a slight irritant to the mucous membranes. Its main toxic effect is exerted upon the nervous system, particularly the optic nerves and possibly the retinae. In the body the products formed by its oxidn are formaldehyde and formic acid, both of which are toxic. Because of the slowness with which it is eliminated, methanol should be regarded as a cumulative poison (Ref 5)... 

Potential sources of carbon monoxide hazards include metal-refining processes, in which it is formed as a byproduct and used as a fuel (LEL 12.5%), and running vehicle engines (particularly petrol-driven) or gas-fired heaters in poorly ventilated confined spaces. It is also a feedstock in the manufacture of a variety of chemicals, e.g. methanol, acetic acid, phosgene and oxo-alcohols. 

Methanol-acetic anhydride reaction Fire Research Station Site Singh (1993)... 

When chlorine was put in contact with methanol, this led to a deflagration followed by a fire due to the decomposition of methyl hypochlorite. 

On addition of boron trichloride, dropwise, to methanol an explosion and fire resulted. The academic reporter appears unaware that reaction of these was reported in 1834, and attributes the explosion to water in his methanol. Since the chloride is a gas, ability to add it dropwise is puzzling. Had a phonetic error meant PC13 was employed the fire would be intelligible, since phosphine would be formed as a pyrophoric byproduct. 

Addition of the chloro compound to a solution of sodium methoxide in methanol caused an unusually exothermic reaction to occur. The lid of the 450 1 vessel was blown olf, and a fire and explosion followed. No cause for the unusual vigour of the reaction was found. 

Benzyl cyanide was prepared from the chloride and sodium cyanide in aqueous methanol. Inadequate cooling of the reactor led to a fire. 

When methanol was used to rinse a pestle and mortar which had been used to grind coarse chromium trioxide, immediate ignition occurred due to vigorous oxidation of the solvent. The same occurred with ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol and cyclo-hexanol. Water is a suitable cleaning agent for the trioxide [1]. For oxidation of sec-alcohols in DMF, the oxide must be finely divided, as lumps cause violent local reaction on addition to the solution [2]. Use of methanol to reduce the Cr(VI) oxide to a Cr(III) derivative led to an explosion and fire [3], The ignitability of the butanols decreases from n -through sec- to iert-butanol [4],... 

PreservCyt Solution contains methanol, a flammable substance and should be stored in a fire safety cabinet. PreservCyt Solution is stored as follows ... 

The heats of main and side reactions are calculated by Equation 6 for the whole liquid inventory. For the main reaction the heat is about 300 J/g. The formation of propionic acid gives the maximum heat of side reaction which is about 1000 J/g. The most dangerous chemical in this process is carbon monoxide which appears in the reaction section. As a construction material stainless steel and Hastelloy are both needed. Hastelloy gives the score value 2. Most dangerous chemical interaction may appear between methanol and hydriodic acid in the reaction section resulting heat formation and even a fire, which gives the score 4. 

Methane has an invisible flame and can be explosive in a closed space such as a fuel tank although it is less flammable than gasoline and results in less severe fires when ignited. Colorants may be added to help identify the flame and baffles or flame arresters at the opening of the tank can be used to repress the accidental ignition of methanol vapors. 

Two independent analytical methods—LC-MS-MS and 19F-NMR— for the determination of perfluorinated anionic surfactants in environmental water samples were presented. Perfluorinated alkanesulfonates and perfluorocarboxylates were determined qualitatively and quantitatively because of an accidental release of perfluorosurfactant contaminated fire-fighting foam [55]. Ci8-SPE was applied for concentration of the compounds from water samples. Methanol was used for elution prior to ESI-LC-MS(—) analysis. The negatively recorded LC-MS-MS TIC for the determination of PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA, perfluor-oheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA internal standard) in water samples was presented [55]. 

Miyafuji and Saka (2001) treated moisture-conditioned wood with a methanolic solution of MTMS in combination with sodium ethoxide, or sodium acetate, to form Na20-Si02 gels. The gels were found to be mainly located in the cell wall and improved the fire resistance of the wood. The use of benzophenone in combination with a Si-gel treatment has been fonnd to improve the UV stability of wood (Miyafuji etal. 2004). 

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