ACRYLIC ACID A SUMMARY OF SAFETY AND HANDLING 3RD EDITION Compiled by BASF Corporation Celanese, Ltd. Elf Atochem North America, Inc. Rohm & Haas Company Union Carbide Corporation TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................................1 2 NAMES AND GENERAL INFORMATION.......................................................................................................................1 3 PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ACRYLIC ACID...................................................................................2 4 SAFETY AND HANDLING TRAINING.............................................................................................................................3 4.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................................................................................................3 4.2 SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS...................................................................................................................3 4.3 WRITTEN OPERATING PROCEDURES...........................................................................................................................................4 4.4 DOCUMENTED TRAINING PROGRAM..........................................................................................................................................4 4.5 Written Emergency Response Plans.....................................................................................................................................4 5 HEALTH AND SAFETY FACTORS......................................................................................................................................4 5.1 TOXICOLOGY............................................................................................................................................................4 5.1.1 General........................................................................................................................................................4 5.1.2 Acute Exposure.......................................................................................................................................4 5.1.3 Chronic Exposure.......................................................................................................................................5 5.2 INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE.................................................................................................................................5 5.2.1 General............................................................................................................................................5 5.3 MEDICAL MANAGEMENT.......................................................................................................................................5 5.4 FIRST AID......................................................................................................................................................................................6 5.4.1 General.............................................................................................................................................................................6 5.4.2 Contact with Eyes..........................................................................................................................................6 5.4.3 Contact with Skin...........................................................................................................................................6 5.4.4 Inhalation.....................................................................................................................................................................6 5.4.4.1 Suggestions to Physicians.....................................................................................................................................................6 5.4.5 Ingestion.............................................................................................................................................................7 5.5 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT...............................................................................................................................................7 5.5.1 General................................................................................................................................................................7 5.5.2 Eye Protection......................................................................................................................................................7 5.5.3 Skin Protection.......................................................................................................................................................7 5.5.4 Respiratory Protection.........................................................................................................................................7 5.5.5 Head Protection................................................................................................................................................8 6 INSTABILITY AND REACTIVITY HAZARDS.................................................................................................................8 6.1 POLYMERIZATION.............................................................................................................................................................8 6.2 THAWING FROZEN ACRYLIC ACID..........................................................................................................................................9 6.3 DIMERIZATION.......................................................................................................................................................................10 7 BULK STORAGE FACILITIES AND ACCESSORIES...................................................................................................10 7.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS..........................................................................................................................................................10 7.2 DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS............................................................................................................................................................11 7.2.1 Temperature Control of Bulk Storage Tanks and Accessories..................................................................................11 7.2.2 Pumps and Protection of Pumps from Overheating..................................................................................................12 7.2.3 Detecting Unsafe Conditions Inside Bulk Storage Vessels........................................................................................13 7.2.4 Avoiding Polymer Formation in Vent Nozzles and Lines.........................................................................................13 7.2.5 Indoor Acrylic Acid Storage Facilities..........................................................................................................................13 7.2.6 Engineering Features for Environmental Protection..................................................................................................13 7.2.7 Engineering Considerations for Fire Control...............................................................................................................14 7.2.8 Materials for Construction and Sealing in Acrylic Acid Service................................................................................14 i 7.2.9 Engineering Considerations for Thawing Frozen Acrylic Acid.................................................................................14 7.2.10 Venting of Bulk Storage Tanks.....................................................................................................................................15 7.2.11 Emergency Venting of Bulk Storage Tanks.................................................................................................................15 7.2.12 Other Bulk Storage Tank Accessories...........................................................................................................................15 7.2.13 Summary of Special Recommended Design Features for Bulk Acrylic Acid Storage Facilities and Accessories...............................................................................................16 8 EQUIPMENT PREPARATION AND CLEANING..........................................................................................................20 8.1 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................................................................................................20 8.2 COMMISSIONING ACRYLIC ACID BULK STORAGE FACILITIES......................................................................................................20 8.3 CLEANING ACRYLIC ACID BULK STORAGE FACILITIES FOR DE-COMMISSIONING.....................................................................20 9 SAFE TRANSPORT OF ACRYLIC ACID..........................................................................................................................21 9.1 PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR LOADING AND HANDLING........................................................................................21 9.2 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.........................................................................................................................................................21