Safety reactions with

Potassium forms corrosive potassium hydroxide and Hberates explosive hydrogen gas upon reaction with water and moisture. Airborne potassium dusts or potassium combustion products attack mucous membranes and skin causing bums and skin cauterization. Inhalation and skin contact must be avoided. Safety goggles, full face shields, respirators, leather gloves, fire-resistant clothing, and a leather apron are considered minimum safety equipment. 

It is necessary to determine the bioburden and make cycle verification studies when ethylene oxide sterilization is used, as it is for other sterilization methods. The manufacturer of hospital sterilization equipment provides cycle recommendations based on the expected bioburden and the consideration of an appropriate safety factor. In ethylene oxide sterilization, it is necessary to determine if residues of the stefilant are absorbed by the sterilized article, and to examine the possible formation of other potentially toxic materials as a result of reaction with ethylene oxide. 

Acetjiene has found use as a feedstock for production of chlorinated solvents by reaction with hydrogen chloride or chlorine (6). However, because of safety concerns and the lower price of other feedstock hydrocarbons, very Htfle acetylene is used to produce chlorinated hydrocarbons in the United States (see Acetylene-derived chemicals). 

Formaldehyde has been rated as a possible carcinogen by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules and should be handled with due caution. It is also a strong lacrymator and choking respiratory irritant. It irritates the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes [76]. Since it is used for tanning leather, it is obvious that fonnaldehyde has a high potential for reactions with proteins. Formaldehyde gas is flammable and most formalin solutions contain significant amounts of methanol, which is also volatile, toxic, and flammable. 

Figure 12-40. Process A Batch reaction with all reactants added at the beginning of the reaction. There is a considerable amount of flammable and hazardous material in the reactor at the beginning. (Source S. M. England, Inherently Safer Plants Practical Applications," Process Safety Progress, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 63-70, AlChE, 1995.)...

A chemical company was considering a larger reactor to expand production. Because of industry reported accidents with this process, a HAZOP was performed that identified the potential for a violent reaction with deadly consequences. A QRA was conducted to better understand the risk of expansion and to determine additional safety needs. 

Caution All reactions with organic peroxides should be conducted behind a safety shield, since peroxides occasionally explode. 

Catalytic oxidation reactions in ionic liquids have been investigated only very recently. This is somewhat surprising in view of the well loiown oxidation stability of ionic liquids, from electrochemical studies [11], and the great commercial importance of oxidation reactions. Moreover, for oxidation reactions with oxygen, the nonvolatile nature of the ionic liquid is of real advantage for the safety of the reaction. While the application of volatile organic solvents may be restricted by the formation of explosive mixtures in the gas phase, this problem does not arise if a nonvolatile ionic liquid is used as the solvent. 

With a common intermediate from the Medicinal Chemistry synthesis now in hand in enantiomerically upgraded form, optimization of the conversion to the amine was addressed, with particular emphasis on safety evaluation of the azide displacement step (Scheme 9.7). Hence, alcohol 6 was reacted with methanesul-fonyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine to afford a 95% yield of the desired mesylate as an oil. Displacement of the mesylate using sodium azide in DMF afforded azide 7 in around 85% assay yield. However, a major by-product of the reaction was found to be alkene 17, formed from an elimination pathway with concomitant formation of the hazardous hydrazoic acid. To evaluate this potential safety hazard for process scale-up, online FTIR was used to monitor the presence of hydrazoic acid in the head-space, confirming that this was indeed formed during the reaction [7]. It was also observed that the amount of hydrazoic acid in the headspace could be completely suppressed by the addition of an organic base such as diisopropylethylamine to the reaction, with the use of inorganic bases such as... 

Anon., Univ. Safety Assoc., Safety Newsletter, 1982-1984 A solution of the chloride (120 ml) in toluene (750 ml) was treated (apparently without effective stirring) with excess sodium bicarbonate solution to destroy it. When reaction had ceased, the organic layer was poured into a waste solvent drum. Vigorous evolution of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride then ensued from reaction with ethanol (toluene-soluble) in the waste drum. For destruction of solutions of sulfinyl chloride in water-insoluble solvents, extremely good agitation is necessary to ensure proper contact with a basic reagent. Ammonia is more soluble in toluene than is water, so ammonia solution should be used after bicarbonate treatment to ensure complete destruction. 

An account of a serious warehouse explosion (15 dead, 141 injured). The two principal detonations were mostly due to ammonium nitrate, of which some hundred tonnes had been present, but the initiating fire was first observed in ammonium persulfate. This had been promiscuously stored alongside potassium permanganate, matches, potassium nitrate and sodium sulphide (or possibly sulphite), inter alia. None of these would improve the safety of ammonium persulfate. It was shown that the persulphate gives an immediate exothermic reaction with the sulphide. This was ascribed as the ultimate initiation. It was concluded that oxidants and... 

General considerations for avoiding unintended reactions with selfreacting substances include knowing the mechanisms and boundaries of what will initiate a self-reaction, maintaining diluents or inhibitors to extend the boundaries where feasible and avoiding the mechanisms (such as shock and overtemperature) that would initiate the self-reaction, and having reliable controls and last-resort safety systems in place to detect and deal with an incipient out-of-control condition. 

Aminophenols, 2 652-678 analysis, 2 661-662 chelating agents, 5 712t chemical reactions, 2 656-658 derivatives, 2 664-671 economic aspects, 2 661 health and safety factors, 2 663-664 manufacture and processing, 2 658-661 physical properties of, 2 653-656, 666t reactions with chloroformates, 6 296 salts, 2 656t... 

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