From: Andrew Gross <gross.drew**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com>Date: December 28, 2009 12:02:48 PM
EST
Subject: Re:
[DCHAS-L] Unknown Hazardous Chemical
Hi Everyone,
My lab recieved a sample
from a power plant that they do not know what
it is and wish to have it identified. I am trying to ID it
because
until I have a better idea
it is on hold for all testing (read on to
find out why). I'm hoping for some
thoughts.
Sample is liquid in appearance, but lighter then
di-chloromethane.
I
think it is actually an oil
of some kind. It is
transparant yellow
and some
say it smells like kerosene.
It forms
a white emulsion when mixed with water.
There is no flash point. On closed cup method it
flames out below
25C. It does not ignite when
exposed to direct flame.
However it
boils
around 27C.
Exposed flame turns green
(like copper flame), vapors also turn flame green.
When dried, it turns to a waxy white translucent
crystal. My
closed
cup flame is still green
meaning it is contaminated by the vapors.
Vapors in small quanteties (under hood) cause nausea,
light headedness
and
confusion.
pH is 6ish (litmus paper)
although client claims it to be caustic.
All PCB analysis came up negative.
The
exposure effects are why all tests are on hold till we have
a
better idea as to what were
dealing with as well as the remaining
tests for my department involve reacting with acid and
pumping
nitrogen through
it.
Thoughts, ideas, experiences? Client has 5 unidentified
drums of this
stuff and has no idea what
it is. We need to
identify but I am not
going to
put anyone in danger until I know more about it.
Andrew
Gross
