Hydrogen fluoride hazards

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). Technology transfer network air toxics Web site. 1992. Air toxics. Hydrogen fluoride. Hazard summary. Created in April 1992. Revised in January 2000 (updated 2007). Washington, D.C. U.S. EPA. 

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES high chemical stability and inertness thermodynamically unstable, but kinetically stable gas inert to nucleophilic attack stable to water and to glass does not attack glass stable to silent electrical discharge unchanged at 500°C (932°F) does not exchange fluorine with hydrogen fluoride hazardous polymerization will not occur FP (NA) LFL/UFL (NA) AT (NA) HF (-1220.5 kJ/mol gas at 25°C). 

Although it is widely recognized as a hazardous substance, large volumes of HF are safely manufactured, shipped, and used, and have been for many years. Excellent manuals describing equipment and procedures for the safe handling of hydrogen fluoride are available from manufacturers (16,17,42). 

PVDE is not hazardous under typical processing conditions. If the polymer is accidentaky exposed to temperatures exceeding 350°C, thermal decomposition occurs with evolution of toxic hydrogen fluoride (HE). 

Alkylation Hazards arise from the alkylating agents, e.g. dimethyl sulphate (suspected human carcinogen), hydrogen fluoride (highly toxic irritant gas) Thermal alkylation processes require higher temperatures and pressures, with associated problems... 

Fire Hazards - Flash Point Not flammable Flammable Umits in Air (%) Not flammable Fire Extinguishing Agents Not pertinent Fire Extinguishing Agems Not To Be Used Not pertinent Special Hazards cf Combustion Products Toxic hydrogen fluoride and cadmium oxide fumes can form Behavior in Fire Not pertinent Ignition Temperature Not pertinent Electrical Hazard Not pertinent Burning Rate Not pertinent. 

Agents Shut off gas source use water to cool adjacent combustibles Fire Extinguishing Agents Not to be Used Data not available Special Hazards of Combustion Products Irritating hydrogen fluoride fumes may form in fire Behavior in Fire Containers may explode. Vapors are heavier than air And may travel a considerable distance Ignition Temperature Data not available Electrical Hazard Data not available Burning Rate Not pertinent. 

This study investigated risks to the public from serious accidents which could occur at the industrial facilities in this part of Essex, U.K. Results are expressed as risk to an individual and societal risk from both existing and proposed installations. Risk indices were also determined for modified versions of the facilities to quantify the risk reduction from recommendations in the report. Nine industrial plants were analyzed along with hazardous material transport by water, road, rail and pipeline. The potential toxic, fire and explosion hazards were assessed for flammable liquids, ammonia, LPG, LNG, and hydrogen fluoride (HE). The 24 appendices to the report cover various aspects of the risk analysis. These include causes and effects of unconfined... 

Because of the hazardous nature of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, adequate precautions should he taken to protect the head, eyes, and skin. Rubber gloves, an apron, and a plastic face mask are strongly recommended. All operations should be carried out in a hood. If hydrogen fluoride comes in contact with the skin, the contacted area should be thoroughly washed with water and then immersed in ice water while the patient is taken to a physi-... 

Nitronium tetrafluoroborate has been prepared by interaction of nitric acid, hydrogen fluoride, and boron fluoride in nitromethane.5 However, mixtures of nitric acid and nitromethane are extremely explosive.6,7 The present modification of the procedure, in which the medium is methylene chloride instead of nitromethane, was developed to avoid this hazard. It has not been published before. 

Although uncontrolled reaction of xenon hexafluoride and moisture produces explosive xenon trioxide, controlled action by progressive addition of limited amounts of water vapour with agitation to a frozen solution of the hexafluoride in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride at —196° C to give xenon oxide tetrafluoride or xenon dioxide difluoride is safe [1], Controlled hydrolysis in solution in hydrogen fluoride is, however, described as hazardous [2],... 

Recently, a search has been conducted for solvents which are less hazardous to handle than halogen fluorides and hydrogen fluoride and which can be used to prepare solutions of the cationic species. Two have been found that are highly oxidation-resistant and suitable for this purpose 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane and... 

Colorless gas that fumes strongly in moist air. This material is hazardous through inhalation and produces local skin/eye impacts. Hydrogen fluoride generated during decomposition poses a significant inhalation and dermal hazard. 

After the reaction is completed the products can be poured into water and ice and the aqueous hydrofluoric acid disposed of down the drain. Care must again be exercised as the mixing of hydrogen fluoride and water generates considerable heat. No hazards or disposal difficulties are incurred with hydrofluoric acid in the usual drain lines as these are made of iron pipe and the hydrogen fluoride is soon absorbed as firm complexes with the iron. It is not detectable at any great distance from the source. For some reactions this simple form of disposal is not satisfactory, for example, in the preparation of an acyl halide or other product which reacts with water. Here distillation of the hydrogen fluoride... 

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