Dan, Do you have data on water mixtures with acetone, ethanol, methanol, dioxane, THF and other common water-miscible flammable solvents waste handlers will encounter? Lee Latimer -----Original Message----- From: Dan Crowl [mailto:crowl**At_Symbol_Here**MTU.EDU] Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 6:40 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures Folks, I have done extensive experimental testing on both the flashpoints of solutions and also experimental characterization of the vapor above aqueous solutions. Aqueous solutions are complicated by non-ideal behavior. Clearly, if the solution is ideal, then the addition of water will increase the flashpoint temperature, reducing the hazard. However, if the solution is non-ideal, this may not be true. If the solution forms a minimum boiling point azeotrope, then the addition of water will REDUCE the flashpoint temperature and increase the hazard. Thus, by adding water the flammability hazard is increased! This is completely opposite of what one would expect! This is true also of other non-aqueous solutions that form minimum boiling point azeotropes. Common practice is to assume that the flashpoint of the mixture will be no lower than the lowest flashpoint of any of the pure components. This is not true with minimum boiling point azeotropes. To do a proper assessment, one would need to know if the solution forms a minimum boiling point azeotrope with water. This requires VLE data which is not commonly available. I have experimental flashpoint data on the following systems: Isobutanol - toluene - min. boiling pt azeotrope Secbutanol - water - max. boiling pt. azeotrope - flashpoint increases Ethanol - heptane - min. boiling az. Methanol - octane - min. boiling az. Ethanol - octane - min. boiling pt. az. Thus, it depends on a case by case basis and no general statements can be made. Dan Crowl Professor Department of Chemical Engineering Michigan Tech University crowl**At_Symbol_Here**mtu.edu Carl Zipfel wrote: > I went down this road many years ago and gave up. The problem is that the > only acceptable test of flammability is the "flash point". The flash point > defines flammability, and is what is accepted by the EPA, OSHA, and more > importantly the insurance companies. While the solvents that you mention > are miscible, once a little heat is applied they will separate and form a > flammable mixture in the air. All flammable solvents mixed with water should > be treated, handled, and stored as flammable liquids. > > Carl Zipfel, csp > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Hadden, Susan [PRDUS]"> To: > Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 2:36 PM > Subject: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures > > > >> Many of our researchers use aqueous mixtures of miscible flammable >> > solvents > >> for their LC work. They often have questions about storage and whether to >> treat them as flammable or not. I've been looking for data that might show >> me flammability as a function of concentration for the common solvents >> > such > >> as CH3CN, MeOH, EtOH, IPA, etc. I've checked OSHA, NFPA and ASTM but can't >> find any solvent specific data. Does anyone know where I might find that >> information? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Susan Hadden >> Senior Occupational Safety Specialist >> J&J PRD Environmental, Health & Safety >> 1000 Rt 202, PO Box 300 >> Raritan, NJ 08869 >> 908-704-4295 (ph), 908-707-9211 (fax) >> ******************************************************** This communication and any files transmitted with it may contain information that is confidential, privileged and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. It is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender. Thank you for your co-operation. ********************************************************
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