Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2010 17:05:01 -0400
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Margaret Rakas <mrakas**At_Symbol_Here**SMITH.EDU>
Subject: Acid Digestions
In-Reply-To: <2959FFA23B1228419226861F4031B9630143F7A2**At_Symbol_Here**hcc-mmsx01.no.enterdir.com>


Good afternoon,


I have a researcher who wan ts to perform acid digestions involving about 20 mLs of concentrated hydr ochloric acid and 5 mLs of concentrated nitric acid which are mixed with her soil, then slowly heated to 95C until most of the acid has evapor ated.   The methodology, developed by outside researche rs, is outlined in a journal article which makes no mention of the us e of scrubbers, special fume hood lining, etc.


The researcher will be wear ing a face shield, rubber apron, goggles, lab coat and thick nitrile gloves, with tape around the glove/labcoat interface.  60;I think we have the PPE down pat.  


The process is planned to b e carried out in a fume hood, using an open vessel on a hot plate. 2; My concerns is whether we should be using some sort of capture sy stem or scrubber for the acid that is evaporated.  I am trying t o find out what the ductwork for the fumehood is made of, but it is n ot a stainless steel hood and I am betting the ductwork is not, eithe r.  The researcher is planning on doing somewhere between 20-100 samples, depending on how things go, so roughly 400 mLs to 2000 mLs of concentrated acid may be sent through the ductwork...


I found one review article on acid digestions that stated "...acid digestion must be conducted in a fume cupboard with efficient scrubbers installed..' [Matusie wicz] but no reference to actually how this is done.  


Any suggestions, citati ons, etc. would be most helpful..

thanks to all,

Margaret


Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post



The content of this page reflects the personal opinion(s) of the author(s) only, not the American Chemical Society, ILPI, Safety Emporium, or any other party. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. Unauthorized reproduction of these materials is prohibited. Send questions/comments about the archive to secretary@dchas.org.
The maintenance and hosting of the DCHAS-L archive is provided through the generous support of Safety Emporium.