We worked at a manufacturing facility in North Carolina years ago.  When breading lines containing t-BuLi,  lithium amides and other organo-lithium compounds, we used glove bags inerted with argon.  The in-plant definition of limiting oxygen concentration was 4%.  We did not do any research on this – just worked in accordance with the facility’s safety plans and SOPs.

Does anyone have any citations for the low limiting oxygen concentration of pyrophoric compounds.  I am specifically looking for the oxygen percentage at which compounds such as t-BuLi become non-ignitable.  For example, that value is 5% for hydrogen.  I have found a reference for silane, but, as is typical for silane, there are a myriad of confounding issues.

I have searched both SciFinder and Science Direct and have not found helpful data.

Thanks

Neal

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