Hi Ralph:

May be researcher bumped some of isovaleryl chloride in the Schlenk line.
During the manipulation sometime there is tendency of bumping the reagent
into line (glass manifold, tube, pump, etc.) if not handled properly. Also,
if the cooling system for the traps is not efficient then it can go into the
vacuum pump. If the pump is not vented to the fume hood, it will give smell
for an extended period.  In this case the Schlenk line was at lower bench,
outside of the fume hood. The boiling point of isovaleryl chloride is 115-117
oC and it has strong smell.

Regards,

Tilak

Tilak Chandra, Ph.D.
Chemical Safety Specialist
Environment, Health and Safety
University of Wisconsin-Madison
30 East Campus Mall
Madison, WI 53715
Ph. 608-890-0255
FAX 608-262-6767
tchandra**At_Symbol_Here**fpm.wisc.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:dchas-l**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU] On Behalf Of
Ralph B Stuart
Sent: Wednesday, December 07, 2011 7:13 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**MED.CORNELL.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Isovaleryl chloride odor control

I'm investigating a situation in which someone was working with isovaleryl
chloride which led to an odor release that lasted for a week. After the
material was extracted from the stock container with a syringe in a hood, it
was used in a Schlenk line outside the hood. Preliminary examination of the
hood with dry ice indicates that it's maintaining containment. The lab's
general ventilation rate is high, as there are 10 feet of hood space in 700
square feet of floor space.

I wonder if anyone has experience with a similar situation that could help
explain there the odor came from and why lasted so long?

Thanks for any information about this.

- Ralph

Ralph Stuart CIH
Laboratory Ventilation Specialist
Department of Environmental Health and Safety Cornell University

rstuart**At_Symbol_Here**cornell.edu

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post