About This Archive | DCHAS-L 2005 Index | DCHAS-L Yearly Index | DCHAS-L Home Page
From: Don Abramowitz <dabramow**At_Symbol_Here**BRYNMAWR.EDU>
Subject: Re: Fwd: recent lab explosion
Date: Jul 11, 2005 20:11 UTC
Reply-To:
In-Reply-To: <s2d272ce.018**At_Symbol_Here**prn705m.pr.us.pri.wyeth.com>
I appreciate the info on backflow, but if memory serves me (and
that's not the certainty it once was), at least one report of HF
cylinder failure involved a cylinder that had never been used. That
report, from a lecture bottle manufacturer, stated that there was a
very slow reaction between the HF and the steel, and they therefore
proposed a maximum shelf life for storing their cylinders. Memory
does not allow me to cite that time limit, but if pressed, I suppose
I could find the report.
Don
> Any liquefied gas is subject to suckback of of liquid when its
>discharge piping is immersed in liquid. This will happen as the
>pressure drops, unless prevented against backflow. Water was
>obviously sucked back into the cylinder which generates hydrofluoric
>acid, which will react with any metal to form hydrogen gas.
--
Donald Abramowitz
Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Bryn Mawr College
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-2899
(610) 526-5166
fax: (610) 526-5220