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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:01:09 -0500
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: Beth Shepard <Beth.Shepard**At_Symbol_Here**SIAL.COM>
Subject: Re: FW: Lithium Aluminum Hydride & friction as an ignition source
In-Reply-To: <BE28425130279043A5B92A2BC7116E233F7313**At_Symbol_Here**EXCH-MBOX-1.exch.ucr.edu>
Good morning--
I was concerned by this report so I did a little bit of research in our
product files. First, is the researcher OK?
The warning that lithium aluminum hydride should be handled under argon is
long-standing & is on the container labels, not just the MSDS.
On Sigma-Aldrich's "oldest" listing of Lithium aluminum hydride (199877),
the container labels have indicated that it should be handled under argon
since at least 1982.
The product # mentioned in the e-mail below, 199877, is advertised & sold
as a powder. If the researcher had to scrape it out of the bottle, it was
no longer a powder, which seems to me to be indicative of past reaction,
that may have been due to exposure to atmospheric moisture.
I've sent Russ' e-mail to our MSDS group for evaluation.
Beth
Beth Shepard / Technical Compliance Specialist
Regulatory Compliance
6000 N. Teutonia Ave. / Milwaukee, WI 53209 / USA
P: (414) 438-3850, x5471
sigma-aldrich.com
Russell Vernon
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06/29/2011 07:13 PM
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[DCHAS-L] FW: Lithium Aluminum Hydride & friction as an ignition source
Dear Chemical Safety Experts,
One of the labs on our campus had a fire when the researcher scraped
lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4) out of the glass jar in which it was
packaged. The LiAlH4 was old and the researcher was using a dry metal
spatula. A quick review of the manufacturerÕs Material Safety Data Sheet
informed the user of moisture sensitivity but there is no indication of
friction causing a fire.
The supervising faculty member reported personal knowledge that friction
can cause ignition of LiAlH4.
The manufacturer (Sigma-Aldrich) of this material was contacted and
responded:
From: Gregory Stachowiak [mailto:Gregory.Stachowiak**At_Symbol_Here**sial.com] On Behalf Of
Sigma-Aldrich Technical Service
Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 8:17 AM
To: Russell Vernon
Cc: Chantalle Carver
Subject: RE: 199877 -- Lithium Aluminum Hydride
Hello again Russell,
We do not have any data on-hand suggesting that friction alone could cause
ignition, however, all of our handling of this chemical is performed
inside a glove bag under a completely inert atmosphere (argon
specifically). This inert atmosphere, combined with the idea that we
don't "spread the product out over a large, flat, combustible surface" is
likely why we have never had any issues with fires starting during the
packaging process.
As shown by those links, however, such an ignition does appear to be
possible. All we can recommend is handling this product under argon in a
glove box or a glove bag to minimize the oxygen and moisture contact and
therefore minimize the chances of a fire.
Unfortunately, because we have not had issues with this problem, we do not
have a specific written procedure for weighing it, no.
Best regards,
Gregory Stachowiak
SIGMA-ALDRICH
Gregory Stachowiak / Scientist, Technical Service Associate
Technical Services
6000 N Teutonia Avenue / Milwaukee WI 53209 / USA
P: (800) 231-8327, x5326 / Gregory.Stachowiak**At_Symbol_Here**sial.com
sigma-aldrich.com
http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/989
http://www.chemicalbook.com/ChemicalProductProperty_EN_CB7318252.htm
http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/dmt/dmt_synthesis1.shtml scroll
down to step 3:
http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/labsafetymanual/cheminfo/lah.htm
So it appears likely that friction alone in the presence of air may be
able to ignite lithium aluminum hydride.
You may want to evaluate your own use and written procedures to prevent
this from happening in your world.
Sincerely,
-Russ
Russell Vernon, Ph.D.
Director
Environmental Health & Safety
University of California, Riverside
900 University Ave
Riverside, CA 92521
www.ehs.ucr.edu
russell.vernon**At_Symbol_Here**ucr.edu
Direct (951) 827-5119
Admin (951) 827-5528
Fax (951) 827-5122
http://www.ucop.edu/riskmgt/uctrips/
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