I agree. Several years ago I learned that gas mixtures are regulated
based on the properties of the mixture as a whole. For example, pure
fluorine would be treated as a highly toxic gas and would be required to
be stored in a ventilated gas cabinet, whereas, fluorine mixtures of 100
ppm to 10% in argon, nitrogen, or helium would not. I would assume this
applies to water soluble mixtures as well.

Chris 

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Erika
Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 9:01 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures

While I agree with Carl that flammable solvent mixtures are generally
judged by their flash point, I disagree with the blanket statement that
"All flammable solvents mixed with water should be treated, handled, and
stored as flammable liquids."  If a flammable solvent is completely
miscible with water, said solution is used a dilution which yields no
flash point, and the solution will not sustain combustion in a fire
(i.e., has no "fire point"), no regulation or insurer is going to be
concerned with their storage (or
shipment) as a flammable liquid.  The basic problem (to which Susan
Hadden
alludes) is generating the data for any such solution.  Perhaps somebody
has done this, but I am not aware of any published data.

Richard Rosera
Environmental Specialist
Reckitt Benckiser, Inc.
Hillsborough, NJ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Zipfel" 
To: 
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Aqueous/Flammable solvent mixtures

> 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)
>

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