Hello, thank you for replies so far.  However,  I am not interested in skin or other personal exposure or medical responses.  We have those in place and they include calcium gluconate and other emergency practices.

 

We are solely interested in identifying the best work practice to recommend to lab personnel to clean tongs, utensils or other working surfaces before storing these reusable items after their use with HF.  Our initial understanding was that a calcium hydroxide solution would be satisfactory; however, we realized providing the concentration would be more useful to lab personnel. We have not yet been able to locate such information.

 

Thank you for any input in advance.

 

Rachel

 

 

I am puzzled.   My understanding is that HF, and other ionizable/ionized forms of fluoride, if exposed to the skin should be treated with calcium gluconate.  ("Calgonate" is a preparation of calcium gluconate.)  However, these treatments would neither be effective nor necessary if the fluorine-containing compound is covalently-bound F.  Thus, I don't know what a "fluorinated acid spill" might be or whether calcium carbonate (which is not calcium gluconate/"Calgonate") would be effective.   (An example of a fluorinated acid might be TFA, trifluoroacetic acid; these F atoms are not ionizable.)

 

When once researching medical events about fluoride exposures I came across anecdotes of medical ER folks using calcium gluconate on an exposure that was clearly a covalently-bonded fluorine compound.  (I can't find this now.)  The treatment was ineffective, as expected.  But, the patient was not suffering from "fluoride exposure", either.)

 

I would welcome other insights that clarify my understanding.

 

Dave

 

 

David C. Finster
Professor, Department of Chemistry
Wittenberg University
937-327-6441

https://www.wittenberg.edu/academics/chemistry/facultystaff/finster2.html

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Sara J
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 11:32 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] HF working surface decontamination solution - recommended concentration or alternate?

 

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas