Nitrogen handling

Toxicology Severe irritant to skin and eyes Precaution Corrosive to many metals incl. mild steel Storage Hygroscopic store below 40 C to minimize color degradation blanket with dry nitrogen handle in lined mild steel or SS vessels Polisorbac 21 [Oxiteno Mexico]... 

Cryogenics We use several types of evacuated stainless steel cryostats of about 1 htre capacity to provide the 77 K cooling with hquid nitrogen. The simplest, best valued and easiest to handle one is a ordinary thermos flask available from the supermarket (see fig.3). It is sufficient for a measurement period of more than 12 hours. A specially designed stainless steel vessel gains cooling periods of 30 hours. 

Liquid diazomethane CHjjNj, b.p. —24°, is an explosive compound and explosions may also occur in the gaseous state if the substance is dry and undiluted. The gas may be handled with safety by diluting it with nitrogen. For synthetical work, a dry ethereal solution of the gas is employed and this can be handled with safety due regard must, however, be paid to the poisonous... 

If undiluted diacetylene is required, the experiment can be carried out in the same way, but preferably on a smaller scale. 3 Traps should then be used and the stream of nitrogen should be slower. The boiling point of diacetylene is said to be about 10°C. The solutions of diacetylene probably can be stored (under nitrogen in the refrigerator) for at least 24 h without decomposition. Though explosions have never been experienced by the authors, it is advisable to handle diacetylene with the necessary respect. 

Acrylonitrile is combustible and ignites readily, producing toxic combustion products such as hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. It forms explosive mixtures with air and must be handled in weU-ventilated areas and kept away from any source of ignition, since the vapor can spread to distant ignition sources and flash back. 

Dry nitrocellulose, which bums rapidly and furiously, may detonate if present in large quantities or if confined. Nitrocellulose is a dangerous material to handle in the dry state because of sensitivity to friction, static electricity, impact, and heat. Nitrocellulose is always shipped wet with water or alcohol. The higher the nitrogen content the more sensitive it tends to be. Even nitrocellulose having 40% water detonates if confined and sufftcientiy activated. AH large-scale processes use nitric—sulfuric acid mixtures for nitration (127—132). 

The tabulation of plant nutrient costs, by product, ia Table 16 shows the principal reasoa for the popularity of anhydrous ammonia as a fertilizer ia the United States. The fob price per ton of nitrogen in the form of ammonia is less than half that for any other nitrogen product. Also, ammonia s relatively high nitrogen content of 82.2% favors low transportation costs, in spite of the need for specialized handling equipment and procedures. 

The most overlooked hazard and contaminant is water (99). Water reacts with isocyanates at room temperature to yield both ureas and large quantities of carbon dioxide. The presence of water or moisture can produce a sufficient amount of CO2 to overpressurize and mpture containers. As Httle as 30 mL of water can result in 40 L of carbon dioxide which could result in pressures of up to 300 kPa (40 psi). For these reasons, the use of dry nitrogen atmospheres is recommended during handling. If a plant air system must be used, purification equipment, such as oil traps and drying beds, should be installed between the source and the isocyanate vessel. 

Phenol. This is the monomer or raw material used in the largest quantity to make phenoHc resins (Table 1). As a soHd having a low melting point, phenol, C H OH, is usually stored, handled in Hquid form at 50—60°C, and stored under nitrogen blanket to prevent the formation of pink quinones. Iron contamination results in a black color. 

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