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Pyrophoric Materials
Definition and Hazards
Controlling the Hazards
Personal Protective Equipment
Designated Areas
Important Steps to Follow
Storage
Disposal
Emergency Procedures
References
Failure to follow proper handling techniques could result in serious injury or death.
Eye Protection:
Skin Protection:
Gloves must be worn when handling pyrophoric chemicals. Nitrile gloves should be
adequate for handling most of these in general laboratory settings but they are
combustible. Be sure to use adequate protection to prevent skin exposures. Sigma-
Aldrich recommends the use of nitrile gloves underneath neoprene gloves.
Avoid wearing synthetic clothing while working with pyrophorics. A lab coat or
apron (not made from easily ignited material like nylon or polyester) must be
worn. Special fire-resistant lab coats made from Nomex are more expensive, but
recommended for labs using these reagents routinely.
No open toe shoes are allowed.
Designated Areas
Fume Hood:
Glove boxes are an excellent device to control pyrophoric chemicals when inert or dry
atmospheres are required. When using a disposable plastic syringe, glove boxes are
also recommended.
Avoid the transfer of large volumes (>20 mL) using a syringe. The cannula technique
is recommended.
Further details, such as safe experiment set up diagrams, can be found in the references
listed below.
Storage
Pyrophoric chemicals should be stored under an atmosphere of inert gas or under
kerosene as appropriate. Avoid areas with heat/flames, oxidizers, and water sources.
Containers carrying pyrophoric materials must be clearly labeled with the correct
chemical name and hazard warning. Do NOT allow pyrophoric chemicals stored in solvent
to dry out. Check periodically to ensure there is a visible amount of solvent in the bottle.
Disposal
All materials that contain or are contaminated with pyrophoric chemicals should be
disposed of as hazardous waste. Submit a Hazardous Materials Pick-up Request
(../../../documents/forms/HMM001.pdf#hmm) form to REM.
Proper and complete hazardous waste labeling of containers is vital.
A container with residual material must NEVER be opened to the atmosphere.
If the pyrophoric chemical was originally stored in solvent and is dried, please hydrate
the chemical with an appropriate solvent before pick-up. The best solvent to use is
the same solvent used for the solution of the original reagent.
Emergency Procedures
Keep material within arm’s length to absorb spills. Powdered lime, dry sand,
Celite® (diatomaceous earth), or clay based kitty litter should b used to completely
smother and cover any spill that occurs.
If a person is exposed, or on fire, the use of the stop, drop, and roll method, safety
shower, a fire blanket, or fire extinguisher are the most effective means of controlling
clothing on fire. If a safety shower is available, keep the person under the shower for
at least 15-20 minutes to ensure all chemicals are washed away.
The recommended fire extinguisher is a standard dry powder (ABC) type. Class D
extinguishers are recommended for combustible solid metal fires (such as sodium),
but not for organolithium reagents.
Call 911 for emergency assistance
References:
Aldrich Technical Bulletins AL-134
(http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-
aldrich/docs/Aldrich/Bulletin/al_techbull_al134.pdf) and AL-164
(http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/content/dam/sigma-
aldrich/docs/Aldrich/Bulletin/al_techbull_al164.pdf)
Handling Pyrophoric Reagents
(http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-
18668.pdf) from U.S. Dept. of Energy and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Chemical Hygiene and Safety Plan
(http://www.lbl.gov/ehs/chsp/html/pyrophorics.shtml) from Berkeley National
Laboratory
Laboratory Safety Fact Sheets #34
(http://www.purdue.edu/rem/hmm/organolithium_fs34.pdf) and #37
(http://www.purdue.edu/rem/hmm/pyrophoric_fs37.pdf) on Pyrophoric Reagents