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How to Handle Perchloric Acid
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| What to do |
How to do it |
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Obtain approval before beginning work. |
- Request prior approval from your principal investigator (PI) before any new project involving perchloric acid begins.
- Work with percholoric acid in concentrations greater than 85% requires special precautions. Contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, before beginning work.
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Evaluate the hazards before beginning work. |
Perchloric acid is one of the strongest and most corrosive acids. Use and store it with extreme care.
- Consult safety resources:
- Consider these hazards specific to perchloric acid:
- Health hazards:
- Irritatation of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract
- Painful burns and even death when exposed body parts come in contact with perchloric acid
- Explosion hazards:
- Anhydrous (dehydrated) perchloric acid: Perchloric acid is noncombustible. However, anhydrous perchloric acid and certain perchlorate salts of organic, organometallic, and inorganic cations present a serious explosion hazard due to their unstable nature and ability to react violently with many organic materials (e.g., wood, paper, cotton, etc.).
- Aqueous perchloric acid can cause violent explosions if operations cause concentration or evaporation, or if it's in concentrations greater than normal commercial grade strength (72%). At concentrations less than 72%, aqueous perchloric acid will not decompose spontaneously.
- Hot, concentrated solutions are extremely dangerous.
- When used cold, 70% perchloric acid acts as a strong acid and is not considered to be a strong oxidizing agent.
- When heated, perchloric acid acts as a strong oxidizing agent.
- Important: NEVER heat perchloric acid in a regular fume hood. Use a wash-down type fume hood. Contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, for more information.
- More concentrated solutions are strong oxidizers, and increases in temperature increase the oxidizing power of perchloric acid.
- Do not use perchlorates as drying agents if there is any possibility of contact with organic compounds or of proximity to a dehydrating acid strong enough to concentrate the perchloric acid (e.g., a drying train that has a bubble counter containing sulfuric acid). Use a safer drying agent.
- Use a less dangerous product than perchloric acid if one is available that can perform the same task.
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Follow these training guidelines. |
A PI or a knowledgeable designee must provide appropriate safety training.
- Inform employees about specific hazards to be aware of when using perchloric acid.
- Explain possible routes of exposure, as appropriate:
- Skin absorption
- Eye exposure
- Inhalation
- Provide personal protective equipment and engineering controls, and train employees in their proper use.
- Post emergency procedures in the lab and make sure everyone who works with perchloric acid is familiar with them.
- Consult the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, on training procedures for any new or revised projects that will:
- Use large quantities of perchloric acid
- Heat perchloric acid
- Keep training records on file, including:
- Information covered
- Date
- Names
- Employee signatures
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Be prepared for accidental spills. |
Perchloric acid spills are very serious and require immediate cleanup.
- Read How to Handle Chemical Spills in Laboratories.
- Keep a chemical spill kit easily accessible.
- Print and keep the Material Safety Data Sheet for perchloric acid with your emergency supplies.
- Know the location of safety equipment, including eyewash, shower station, first aid kit, and Emergency Guide.
- Clean up only very small quantities of dilute perchloric acid, and only if you have been properly trained. If you decide to clean up a spill yourself:
- Use only materials appropriate for perchloric acid (e.g., chemical absorbent pads). Never use organic materials such as paper towels or cloth rags.
- Dispose of all spill containment material as hazardous chemical waste.
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Follow these purchasing and storage guidelines. |
- Buy the least amount of perchloric acid the work requires. Do not buy in large quantities to "save money."
- Label all containers with this information:
- Name of the material
- Concentration
- Warnings
- Date, when appropriate
- Preparer's initials, when appropriate
- Label the work area with a sign saying "Perchloric Acid Use Area."
- Follow these storage guidelines:
- Select a compatible container, preferably polyethylene.
- Place the container in a compatible secondary container (i.e., polyethylene) large enough to capture the entire contents should the original container leak or rupture.
- Contact an EH&S Research Assistance Program specialist if you have questions about chemical and container compatibility.
- Isolate perchloric acid from organic materials.
- Do not store in wooden cabinets or on paper-lined shelves.
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Control the hazards. |
- Engineering controls:
- Evaporations:
- Contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, before attempting to perform any perchloric acid evaporations.
- Perform a dry run of your process to work out any potential pitfalls.
- Conduct evaporations of perchloric acid only in a chemical fume hood specifically designed for perchloric acid use. These special fume hoods, called wash-down hoods, allow systematic washdowns with water after evaporations, putting the perchlorates back into solution and avoiding inadvertent explosions due to shock or heat.
- Important: If perchloric acid is inappropriately heated in a non-perchloric acid type fume hood, it could be dangerous to service the hood due to the accumulation of perchlorates in the fume hood or the associated duct work. If this happens, take the following required measures before the fume hood can be made operational:
- Have the hood tested for perchlorates by a qualified outside vendor. The PI or the department responsible for the fume hood is responsible for the testing service.
- If test results are positive for perchlorate contamination, remediation of the chemical fume hood and associated duct work must be performed by a qualified outside vendor before the room and fume hood can be cleared. The PI or the department responsible for the equipment is responsible for the remediation.
- Contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579, for the name of a qualified vendor.
- Wear this personal protective equipment:
- Lab coat with sleeves fully extended to the wrists
- Safety glasses or splash goggles and face shield
- Rubber gloves
- Full-length pants
- Rubber apron
- Closed-toe shoes
Follow these PPE guidelines:
- Always double-check your PPE before each use of perchloric acid.
- Leave all personal protective equipment in the lab when your work is complete.
- Restrict access to the work area.
- Keep container sizes and quantities in the work area as small as possible.
- Line work surfaces with removable plastic-backed absorbant paper.
- If you suspect equipment has been contaminated with perchloric acid, contact an EH&S Research Assistance Program specialist.
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Act quickly if an exposure occurs. |
Give first-aid treatment, then seek medical attention immediately for any and all perchloric acid exposures. Treat any exposure seriously, no matter how slight it may seem at the moment.
- Ingestion: Seek medical attention immediately.
- Skin exposure: Flush exposed skin with water for at least 15 minutes while removing any contaminated clothing.
- Eye exposure: Flush eyes with water for at least 15 minutes. The affected person may need help holding their eyes open under water.
- For all exposures:
- Seek medical attention immediately at an emergency room.
- Call Campus Police at (858) 534-4357 (534-HELP) and request an ambulance if transportation is necessary.
- Call the California Poison Control System, (800) 222-1222, if additional information is needed.
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Dispose of waste properly. |
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If you are a UCSD employee and have questions, contact the chemical safety officer, (858) 822-1579. |
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Notice: Disposal of hazardous waste using sinks, intentional evaporation, or as regular trash is against the law. Campus laboratories must abide by strict state and federal waste disposal requirements. You may be held liable for violations of applicable laws.
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