Hydrogen fluoride toxicity

Precaution Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents, acids, and bases do not breathe vapors avoid contact with skin wear indirect-vented goggles, safety glasses with side shields and impervious gloves Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Combustion produces CO, CO2, hydrogen fluoride, toxic vapor... 

Germanium tetrafluoride produces hydrogen fluoride in aqueous acidic solutions. Hydrogen fluoride is toxic and very corrosive. The OSHA permissible exposure limit (17) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) TLV for fluoride is 2.5 mg/m of air (18). 

Hydrogen fluoride is not a carcinogen. However, HE is highly reactive, and heat or toxic fumes may be evolved. Reaction with certain metals may generate flammable and potentially explosive hydrogen (qv) gas. 

Experimentation with test animals and laboratory and plant experience indicate that the fluorophosphoric acids are less toxic and dangerous than hydrogen fluoride (58). However, they contain, or can hydrolyze to, hydrofluoric acid and must be treated with the same care as hydrofluoric acid. Rubber gloves and face shields are essential for all work with these acids, and full mbber dress is necessary for handling larger quantities. The fumes from these acids contain HF. 

Because PTFE resins decompose slowly, they may be heated to a high temperature. The toxicity of the pyrolysis products warrants care where exposure of personnel is likely to occur (120). Above 230°C decomposition rates become measurable (0.0001% per hour). Small amounts of toxic perfiuoroisobutylene have been isolated at 400°C and above free fluorine has never been found. Above 690°C the decomposition products bum but do not support combustion if the heat is removed. Combustion products consist primarily of carbon dioxide, carbon tetrafluoride, and small quantities of toxic and corrosive hydrogen fluoride. The PTFE resins are nonflammable and do not propagate flame. 

The self-ignition temperature of PVF film is 390°C. The limiting oxygen iadex (LOI) for PVF is 22.6% (98), which can be raised to 30% ia antimony oxide-modified film (99). Hydrogen fluoride and a mixture of aromatic and aUphatic hydrocarbons (100) are generated from the thermal degradation of PVF. Toxicity studies, ie, survival and time to iacapacitation, of polymers, ceUulosics (101,102), and airplane iaterior materials (103) expose... 

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). 

Hundreds of chemical species are present in urban atmospheres. The gaseous air pollutants most commonly monitored are CO, O3, NO2, SO2, and nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), Measurement of specific hydrocarbon compounds is becoming routine in the United States for two reasons (1) their potential role as air toxics and (2) the need for detailed hydrocarbon data for control of urban ozone concentrations. Hydrochloric acid (HCl), ammonia (NH3), and hydrogen fluoride (HF) are occasionally measured. Calibration standards and procedures are available for all of these analytic techniques, ensuring the quality of the analytical results... 

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... 

Chemical Reactivity - Reactivity with Water Reacts vigorously to form toxic hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) Reactivity with Common Materials When moisture is present, causes severe corrosion of metals (except steel) and glass. If confined and wet can cause explosion. May cause fire in contact with combustible material Stability During Transport Stable Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics Flush with water, rinse with sodium bicarbonate or lime solution Polymerization Not pertinent Inhibitor of Polymerization Not pertinent. 

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. 

Attention focused on events that cold release a quantity of flammable, explosive or to,xic vapors, hence, operations involving toxic liquefied gases such as ammonia and hydrogen fluoride, and flammables such as LNG and LPG. 

Hydrogen fluoride is at present stored in bulk and used at only the Shellhaven refinery, bat future use is envisioned. Hydrogen fluoride boils point 19° C but stored and handled as a hq lie tied gas. Its vapor is highly irritating and toxic. A cold cloud will be denser than air in the early stages when released but wall become neutral or buoyant as it warms with dispersion. This r-sessment assumes negative buoyancy... 

Toxic Reactions of the Skin Irritation is the most common reaction of the skin. Skin irritation is usually a local inflammatory reaction. The most common skin irritants are solvents dehydrating, oxidizing, or reducing compounds and cosmetic compounds. Acids and alkalies are common irritants. Irritation reactions can be divided into acute irritation and corrosion. Necrosis of the surface of the skin is typical for corrosion. Acids and alkalies also cause chemical burns. Phenols, organotin compounds, hydrogen fluoride, and yellow phosphorus may cause serious burns. Phenol also causes local anesthesia, in fact it has been used as a local anesthetic in minor ear operations such as puncture of the tympanous membrane in cases of otitis. ... 

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... 

Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid react with substances containing silica and silicon oxide to form silicon tetrafluoridc and fluorosilic acid. SiF, a colorless gas at ambient temperature, is liighly toxic. An equilibrium mixture of SiF in the presence of moisture also contains hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. 

In order to achieve high yields, the reaction usually is conducted by application of high pressure. For laboratory use, the need for high-pressure equipment, together with the toxicity of carbon monoxide, makes that reaction less practicable. The scope of that reaction is limited to benzene, alkyl substituted and certain other electron-rich aromatic compounds. With mono-substituted benzenes, thepara-for-mylated product is formed preferentially. Super-acidic catalysts have been developed, for example generated from trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride the application of elevated pressure is then not necessary. 

Chlorine trifluoride is a toxic, intensely reactive gas. It was used in World War II to make incendiary bombs. It reacts with ammonia and forms nitrogen, chlorine, and hydrogen fluoride gases. When two moles of chlorine trifluoride reacts, 1196 kj of heat is evolved. 

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