Spill hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) alkylation units have small acid remn units to purify the acid for reuse. HF units do not have a spent acid or spent caustic waste stream. Any leaks or spills that... 

Instruct others to maintain a safe distance. Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, eye protection, butyl rubber gloves, and a laboratory coat. Cover the spill with a 1 1 1 mixture by weight of sodium carbonate or calcium carbonate, clay cat litter (bentonite), and sand. When the hydrofluoric acid has been absorbed, scoop the mixture into a plastic pail and transport to the fume hood. Slowly add to a pail of cold water. Add an excess of calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide. Let the precipitate settle for 24 hours. Decant the solution to the drain. Allow the solid residue (calcium fluoride and bentonite) to dry and package for disposal in accordance with local regulations.7,8... 

Pyroceramic and ceramic tops are impervious to most chemical spills. The exceptions are typically any of the chemicals that can attack glass, such as hydrofluoric acid, alkali solutions, and hot phosphoric acid. Metal-topped hot plates can take more physical abuse than ceramic or pyroceramic tops. In addition, with metal, there are no concerns about scratches or cracks that, on a pyroceramic top, could lead to further deterioration. Metal-topped hot plates are, however, subject to corrosion from chemical spills. 

Spill control pillows. These commercially available pillows generally can be used for absorbing solvents, acids, and caustic alkalis, but not hydrofluoric acid. 

While there are spill kits for mercury, you should seek professional assistance in cleaning up mercury spills. Unless you have been specifically trained in cleaning up hydrofluoric acid, mercury, or other reactive chemicals, you should not attempt to deal with these spills yourself. Seek professional assistance, usually the environmental, health, and safety department of your institution. These spills are especially hazardous and require more experience. 

Vermiculite, sand, clays, etc. are useful for less hazardous spills Calcium bentonite is often incorporated into chemical spill kits because it is one of the most cost-effective sorbents and can be used on most chemical spills, with the exception of hydrofluoric acid. 

In the event of a large spill of liquid fluorine, the contaminated area can be neutralized with sodium carbonate. The dry powder can be sprayed on the spill area from a fluidized system similar in principle to that of dry chemical fire extinguishers. If major spills occur in areas where the formation of hydrofluoric acid liquid and vapor pose no undue danger, water in the form of a fine mist or fog is recommended. 

While there are spill kits for mercury, you should seek professional assistance in cleaning up mercury spills. Unless you have been specifically trained in cleaning up hydrofluoric acid, mercury, or other reactive chemicals, you should not attempt to deal with these spills yourself. Seek additional and/or professional assistance, usually the environmental, health, and safety department of your institution or the local fire department hazmat team. These spills are especially hazardous and require more experience. Any time that you call in additional help, be prepared to tell them as much as you can about what has spilled and how much has spilled. Having an SDS handy may be helpful but most response teams will have their own resources to review (once they know what the chemical is). As the opening quote in the section reveals, a key task for a hazmat response team is to quickly identify the spill so that they know what level protection to wear and can consider the need for evacuation. 

Acids such as sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric, phosphoric, perchloric, formic, acetic, chlorosulfonic, 50% hydrofluoric, and adipic can be treated by a mix of magnesium oxide and other chemical additives. It must be expected that when the dry chemical agent is applied to an acid spill, there will be a momentary increase in the volume of vapor coming off the spill. This puff is caused by the heat generated from the neutralization of the acid. To protect the personnel applying the dry chemical cover from this puff, suitable personnel protective equipment should be worn. 

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