Management of Hazardous
Chemicals
Toluene
Toluene
• It is a colorless liquid having molecular
weight 92 and molecular formula
C6H5CH3
• It has a sweet pleasant odor.
• It is almost insoluble in water.
• Specific gravity at 15 deg.cen 0.866.
• Boiling point- 110 deg.cen.
• Flash point- 7 deg.cen.
Toluene
• Due to low flash point liquid toluene as
well as vapor toluene are highly
inflammable.
• Due to low specific gravity it always floats
on water.
• Auto ignition temperature 422 deg. Cen.
Reactivity
• Methyl group attached in benzene ring is very
reactive.
• In presence of catalyst it is easily chlorinated to
benzyl chloride,benzal chloride and benzo tri
chloride.
• It does not deplete ozone layer.
• It should be kept away from incompatible
materials such as nitro tetra
oxide,HNO3+H2SO4,Silver per chlorate to avoid
explosion
Reactivity
• Hazardous decomposition products are
Carbon monoxide and Carbon dioxide.
Toxilogical Information
• No information about human carcinogen.
Storage
• It is stored in tanks under ground or above
the ground with proper care of fire hazard
• Storage tanks should be as per explosive
licence directions.
Leakage
• Leakage can be detected by electronic
leakage censor device.
• Censor should be fixed near the storage
tanks in all direction.
• Censor should be connected through
hooter .
Personnel Protective Equipments
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Self contained breathing apparatus.
Positive pressure(blower) hose mask.
Industrial canister type mask.
Protective clothing.
First Aid
•
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Shift the affected person to open place.
Apply oxygen immediately.
Remove the contaminated clothing.
Plenty of water to be used for eye and skin
washing.
• Call a doctor if the victim is uncomfortable.
Employees Selection and Training
• Toluene leakage should be handled by
trained personnel only.
• Training should be given to competent
person only,
• Training and awareness programme to be
conducted frequently.
Practice Being Adopted In Lanxess
• Huge quantity of Toluene 5 MT per hour is used
for chlorination
• This quantity can not be handled with small
tanks.
• Two storage tanks of 1000KL capacity are
installed.
• An auto cut valve is fitted in the pipeline of
toluene discharge line.
• In case of fire this valve will automatically be
closed.
.
Practice Being Adopted In Lanxess
• Vent line of storage tanks are fitted with chilled
water condenser.
• Storage tanks are well connected to earthing pit
and continuity of earthing pits are regularly
checked and recorded.
• Tanks are well covered by water hydrant line
and water showers are fitted very close to tanks
for cooling from out side
• toluene leakage detectors are fitted in all the
required places near storage tanks and in 4
directions.
Practice Being Adopted In Lanxess
• Toluene tankers are connected with auto
earthing pit censor.In case tankers are not
properly earthed then hooter will start
• Sampling from each compartment is
done.and a composite sample is prepared
for analysis.
• If analysis is found o.k. then tanker is
unloaded.
Practice Being Adopted In Lanxess
• ToluenePipe lines are regularly checked
for wall thickness and proper records are
maintained.
• Toluene storage tank area is always kept
clean.No other combustable item is stored
in this area
Practice Being Adopted In Lanxess
• Training is regular practice in lanxess.
• In house Mock drills are done quarterly.
• Off sight mock drill is also conducted once
in a year.
• Records of all the trainings are maintained
and considered in annual appraisal.
• Annual health check is done by a
competent doctor