General Stipulations on Storage of Methyl Methacrylate - Report Example

General stipulations on storage of Methyl methacrylate The proposal to store is Methyl methacrylate is feasible in case proper planning and careful implementation is followed. A detached source is preferred for the storage of physical damage. The storage facilities should be isolated from incompatibles. As the chemical is highly inflammable, storage areas should be protected from even scare chances of sparks. Maintenance operations, routine management activities and any other processes involved should be free from chances of sparks. Storage in a cool and dry well-ventilated location is preferred. Technical aspects of storage The chemical is a clear colorless liquid. It has a sweet sharp odor. The solubility of Methyl methacrylate is 1.5 gm in 100 gm water. It has a specific gravity of 0.944 @ 20C/4C. The boiling point of the chemical is 100 degree Celsius (212 F) and its melting point is – 48 degree Celsius (-54 F). The vapor density and vapor pressure are 3.6 and 40 @ 25.5C (79F) respectively. The evaporation rate is 3.1.( Wakeling, Danny 2008,p3), As the material to be stored is a liquid, so as to avoid chances of leakage, the storage structure should be of a material which can resist damages leading to leakage for a longer period. It should be also noted that interim repair operations may be unfeasible as they may cause sparks which is detrimentally harmful. Due to the sharp odor of the chemical the storage space has to be away from living habitats. As the storage has to be given proper ventilation, the smell can spread to farther areas. The thermal insulation of the storage material will not be a major concern as the chemical attains its boiling point only at 100 Degree Celsius. This statement can be related with the vapor pressure of the chemical and standard atmospheric pressure by the aid of the following formula. 1 standard atmospheric pressure = 760mmHg 1 mmHg = 25.4 X PinHg 760 mmhg = 760 (25.4 X PinHg) = 19304 PinHg 1Pinhg = 0.295300 X Pkpa 19304 PinHg = 19304 (0.295300 X Pkpa) = 5700.4712 Pkpa Vapor pressure of Methyl methacrylate = 3.6 Kilo Pascals .(Wakeling, Danny 2008,p3) Comparing the values of vapor pressure of Methyl methacrylate, and the standard atmospheric pressure, a vast difference is observed in between. It is in conditions where these two values match, boiling occurs. So in the storage of Methyl methacrylate, a chance of natural boiling will not occur. The fact that Methyl methacrylate should be stored in ventilated conditions and exposed to oxygen becomes feasible, as this wont cause neither boiling nor the excessive weight loss through evaporation.Research on thermal stability of Methyl methacrylate done by Aivars Meisters, Graeme Moad  , Ezio Rizzardo  and David H. Solomon (1998) has indicated a lower structural and chemical decomposition of the chemical with relevance to the temperature. However the vapor density of 3.6 Kilo Pascals at normal room temperature also refers to the non relevance of a thermal insulation. The storage temperature however ideally should not exceed 25 degree celcius. Commercial aspects of storage Methyl methacrylate is of much commercial importance as it is an industrially important chemical. Methyl methacrylate is widely used in the manufacture of methacrylate resins and plastics. The most important uses of methyl methacrylate are the production of cast sheet and other grades which are used for making advertising signs and displays, lighting fixtures, glazing and skylights, building panels and sidings, and plumbing and bathroom fixtures (USEPA 2008). The chemical is also used for making molding and extrusion powders, and coating materials like latex paints, lacquer, and enamel resins. Methyl methacrylate is also used in the impregnation of concrete to make it water-repellent, and also has uses in the fields of medicine and dentistry to make prosthetic devices and as a ceramic filler or cement. (USDHH, 1998). The storage of Methyl methacrylate would be cost effective as the storage condition does not include much infrastructure development. The measures to deter chances of sparking would not involve much cost. However to avoid proximity, infrastructural developments may be required. The reactor inhibitor concentration will have to be checked regularly and for the inhibitor to be effective, low levels of dissolved oxygen must be present in the methyl methacrylate Operational aspects of storage The concern of most importance in the operations involved in the storage of Methyl methacrylate is the inflammability. In order to avoid static sparks the containers should be bonded and grounded for transfers. The storage space should be strictly a non smoking area. The tools used with the storage premises should be non-sparking and the storage should include explosion proof ventilation. It should be away from a space where fire hazard may be acute. The storage space should be protected from direct sunlight. In totality the operational aspects of the storage may not be demanding. However the occupational health and safety measures should be ensured. Attempt to clean empty containers must be avoided as it is difficult to remove the residue. Operational activities like pressurization, cut, weld, braze, solder, drill, grind or expose such containers to heat, sparks, flame, static electricity or other sources of ignition because they may cause explosion. .( Wakeling, Danny 2008,p3). The storing should not be done under pure nitrogen. Safety aspects of storage As the material which is to be handled is potential hazard, proper personal protective equipments should be used. Goggles should be used to avoid eye contacts. As the skin contact can also cause health problems lab coat, gloves and face masks should be used. Considering the inflammability of the chemical, a Class B Extinguisher should always be available at near proximity. (EHA 2006, p.2) Health aspects of storage The health rating of Methyl methacrylate is moderate. Respiratory tract irritations may be caused due to its inhalation. The symptoms of inhalation may include coughing, chest pain, headache, drowsiness, nausea, anorexia, irritability and narcosis. However, very high levels of inhalation may cause pulmonary edema and death. The chemical’s ability to lower the blood pressure can cause cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular problems. (EHA 2006, p.2) The ingestion of the chemical can cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and in longer terms cause liver and kidney damage. Skin contact should also be avoided as it can cause irritation. The symptoms of skin contact include redness, itching, pain and sometimes allergic skin reactions. Contact of the chemical with the skin can cause irritation, redness, and pain. Long term handling of the chemical with bare hand can develop changes in the nerve impulse transmission in the fingers. The existing conditions of skin disorders, eye problems, or impaired liver, kidney or respiratory function may aggregate due to the effect of the chemical.(EHA 2006, p.2) Environmental Fate: The disposal of the chemical should be handled with care as the chemical has a biodegradable nature when released into the soil. The chemical can leach into groundwater. However the chemical quickly evaporates when disposed in soil. When released into water the chemical is slightly soluble as the solubility percent is only 1.5. The bio-concentration factor of the material is less than 100 and thus not expected to significantly bioaccumalate. Its release into the air can cause reactions with photo-chemically produced hydroxyl radicals causing its biodegradation. (EHA 2006, p.2) Conclusion and recommendation The storage of Methyl methacrylate is a feasible proposal in terms of commercial, environmental, health, operational and technical aspects. The legalities in storage of the chemical will have to be confirmed and followed. An operational training and a policy and procedure formulation is highly suggested to ensure proper handling standards. Occupational Health and Safety Measures should be strictly followed. Acute care coupled with proper planning would make possible the successful implementation of the proposal on the storage of Methyl methacrylate. However the waste management system and disposal facilities should be ensured and an ideal isolated place far from living ecologies should be identified for the storage system. WORKS CITED Meisters A, Moad  G, Rizzardo E  & Solomon D (1998). Thermal stability of Methyl Methacrylate .Retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://www.springerlink.com/content/q7666m2812451558/ US Environmental Protection agency (1998). Methyl Methacrylate .Retrieved November 14, 2008, from http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/methylme.html Wakeling, Danny. (2008), Safety Data Sheet. Lucite International: Billingham. p.3 Environmental Health & Safety. (2006), Material Safety Data Sheet: Methyl Methacrylate: Mallickrodt Chemicals .Phillipsburg p.2 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1993) Hazardous Substances Data Bank. National Toxicology Information Program, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD. Read More