The damage to you hood system is likely to be significant over a short period of time as neither hood nor the duct work is designed for acid condensation. Using a laminar flow hood for such a high volume operation also sound like an easy recipe for a significant exposure problem.

My recommendation is:

1. You need a detailed hazard analysis and risk assessment by trained individuals and not just the researcher. I feel confident they will have the same concerns as mentioned above.
2. This type of work should be done in a 100 fpm face velocity hood not a laminar flow hood nor a zero pressure enclosure which I assume is either a dry box or simply an enclosure either of which are truly awful ideas.
3. The operation needs a robust and well designed condenser system to avoid major damage to the hood, ductwork and fans as well as to reduce exposure levels. This type of system, while conceptually easy to design, is open so poorly designed and sized as to be useless. So it should be reviewed in detail as part of step 1.

This is one of those research operations that tends to fly under the radar until the lab starts to fall apart and people start to report in sick.

Richard Palluzi

PE, CSP

Pilot plant and laboratory consulting, safety, design,reviews, and training

www.linkedin.com/in/richardppalluzillc/

Richard P Palluzi LLC

72 Summit Drive

Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

rpalluzi**At_Symbol_Here**verizon.net

908-285-3782

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Margaret Rakas
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2019 2:25 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Acid Stills...

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas