Handling the dust

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. The dust of chlorhexidine and its salts may be irritant to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Gloves, eye protection, and a respirator are recommended. 

When dispersed as a dust, adipic acid is subject to normal dust explosion hazards. See Table 3 for ignition properties of such dust—air mixtures. The material is an irritant, especially upon contact with the mucous membranes. Thus protective goggles or face shields should be worn when handling the material. Prolonged contact with the skin should also be avoided. Eye wash fountains, showers, and washing faciUties should be provided in work areas. However, MSDS Sheet400 (5) reports that no acute or chronic effects have been observed. 

Dorex is very toxic (see Table 2) and must be handled with extreme care. Because it may produce severe dermatitis on moist skin, it is difficult to use in hot, humid climates inhalation of the dust or spray may irritate the mucous membranes. Whereas symptoms may include a flushed face, tachycardia, headache, vertigo, and hypotension, it does not produce the typical cyanide effect. 

N2, and traces of PH, CO2, E, and S large furnaces generate off-gas at a rate of about 120—180 m /min. In most installations the off-gas is passed through a series of Cottrell electrostatic precipitators which remove 80—95% of the dust particles. The precipitators ate operated at temperatures above the 180°C dew point of the phosphoms. The collected dust is either handled as a water slurry or treated dry. Einal disposal is to a landfill or the dust is partially recycled back to the process. The phosphoms is typically condensed in closed spray towers that maintain spray water temperatures between 20 and 60°C. The condensed product along with the accompanying spray water is processed in sumps where the water is separated and recycled to the spray condenser, and the phosphoms and impurities ate settled for subsequent purification. 

Handling of alumina and coke presents dusting problems. Hoods and exhaust systems collect the dust, which is then separated from the exhaust air either by cyclones, electrostatic precipitators, filter bags, or a combination of these methods, and recycled to the process (see Air pollution control PffiTHODS). 

The pneumatic classification system should be designed to handle ha2ardous dust (28). A ha2ardous dust is one which, when finely divided and suspended in air in the proper concentration, bums, produces violent explosions, or is sufficiently toxic to be injurious to personnel health (see Air pollution control methods Powders, handling). At the least, almost any dust can be irritating to personnel because of inhalation or skin or eye contact. Fully oxidi2ed and hydrated materials are generally considered safe. 

The equipment in which the dust is handled or stored should be designed to contain the pressure resulting from an internal explosion. Most dusts show maximum pressures of ca 345—700 kPa (50—100 psi) however, the rate of pressure rise changes from ca 700 to 70,000 kPa/s (100—10,000 psi/s). Equipment-containment design can be coupled with explosive-venting design for the equipment and the building. 

Succinic acid and anhydride should be handled with mbber or plastic gloves safety goggles and a dust filter are recommended when handling the products in powder form. A full-face gas mask with a type A (brown) filter cartridge should be worn when handling molten products. 

Good housekeeping practices to prevent the accumulation of tantalum dust and a proper passivation procedure will prevent most tantalum fires. AH equipment used to handle the powder should be properly grounded and contact with hot surfaces or flames should be avoided. 

Sodium metaborate hydrates are more alkaline than borax and greater care is required in handling. The metaborate material is harm fill to the eyes and can cause skin irritation. Gloves, goggles, and a simple dust mask should be used when handling sodium metaborate powder. 

Fluorides and dust are emitted to the air from the fertilizer plant. All aspects of phosphate rock processing and finished product handling generate dust, from grinders and pulverizers, pneumatic conveyors, and screens. The mixer/reactors and dens produce fumes that contain silicon tetrafluoride and hydrogen fluoride. A sulfuric acid plant has two principal air emissions sulfur dioxide and acid mist. If pyrite ore is roasted, there will also be particulates in air emissions that may contain heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury, and lead. 

Wet ESPs add to the complexity of a wash system, because of the fact that the resulting slurry must be handled more carefully than a dry product, and in many cases requires treatment, especially if the dust can be sold or recycled. Wet ESPs are limited to operating at stream temperatures under approximately 80 to 90°C (170 to 190°F), and generally must be constructed of noncorrosive materials (EPA, 1998 Flynn, 1999). 

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