PRODUCTION
SAFETY
Inositol biochemical f r o m corn
The physical properties a r e : Appearance · White, crystalline powder Odor · None Melting Point · 225° C. dc 1°C. Molecular Weight · 780.76 Moisture (max.) · 0.25% Ash, dry basis (max.) · 0.02%
First Q u a r t e r Injury Rate Low, but on Upswing The all-manufacturing injury-frequency rate was lower during the first quarter of 1953 than in any comparable period on record, according to preliminary reports received by the Bureau of Labor Statis tics of the U. S. Department of Labor. There were, however, indications that it may be moving to higher levels. The all-manufacturing average lor the full quarter, 13.0 disabling injuries per million employee-hours worked, was 4 % lower than the average for the same period of 1952. It was 4% above the average of 12.5 for the fourth quarter of 1952—a somewhat greater increase for the season than noted in most previous years. This upward movement has so far been of too short duration to be accepted as a trend, but it does indicate a strong possibility that the rates for subsequent months of 1953 may be higher than in 1952. No con clusive pattern was apparent in the move ment of the frequency rates for individual manufacturing industries. Synthetic fibers again held the most favorable position in the list of industries for which rates were available: its first quarter average was less than one disabling injury in every million employee-hours worked. T e m p e r a t u r e Should Be W a t c h e d On Large H 2 0 2 Storage Tanks
Solubility Water at 25°C. -14 g. per 100 ml. solution · Water at 60°C. - 28 g. per 100 ml- solution · Slightly solu ble In alcohol · Practically insoluble in other common organic solvents. C r y s t a l l i z e s in anhydrous form from water or acetic acid above 80°C; from water below 5 0 ° C , as inositol dihydrate.
General — Neutral in water solution. Non-hygroscopic. All six hydroxyl groups are esterifiab' .
Time-temperature records are advisable for large hydrogen peroxide storage tanks, especially those containing solutions stronger than 50% hydrogen peroxide, according to E. S. Shanley, of Buffalo Electro-Chemical Co., Buffalo, Ν. Υ. In
FORUM For f u r t h e r information on the
keyed items mentioned here, see coupon on page 2918
this way, any increase in t h e rate of de composition of hydrogen peroxide, which releases a relatively large amount of heat, can be detected far in advance of any hazard. Commercial solutions are tested before shipment to ensure that decompo sition rate is low. Tanks should be located to permit free movement of surrounding air, Mr. Shanley observes. Heat dissipation is necessary for the safety of any peroxide tank. There is a maximum safe tank size for any given peroxide solution at a given ambient tem perature. Particular care should be taken in design of storage areas for strong per oxide in the tropics or in confined places. In early stages of self-heating, decom position can be controlled by addition of stabilizers or by cooling with water. Wa ter sprays can dissipate heat 10 times as fast as air convection, according to Mr. Shanley. Internal cooling with water can be effective, but it dilutes trie peroxide. Mr. Shanley reported his work in the July issue of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, page 1520. W e t t i n g A g e n t Extinguishes T w o - D a y - O l d Warehouse Fire One hundred gallons of a wetting agent mixed with 100,000 gallons of water ex tinguished a fire in a Philadelphia ware house in two hours. For two days, 18 hoses had poured water o n the tons of blazing rubber and other government materials being stored in the warehouse, but with no success.
A . R. M a a s and Naugatuck W i n M C A S a f e t y A w a r d s R. L. Geiler ( left ), president of A. R. Maas division of Victor Chemical Works, receives the Lammot du Pont Safety Plaque from R. H. Albisser, chairman of the Manufacturing Chemists' Association general safety committee. Maas won the award a s the chemical company with less than 2 million man-hours exposure that has shown greatest improve ment in plant safety over a five-year period. Naugatuck chemical division of U. S. Rubber won the award in the over 2 million man-hour category. Tar products division, Koppers Co., was runner-up to Maas and Jefferson Chemical Co. to Naugatuck
This important member of the vita min Β complex is available for use in further biochemical and chemical re search. A booklet with complete in formation will be sent upon request.
r
'-Fine * Chemicals Chemical,
from Cprn " Division
CORN PROOUÇTSf REFINING C O M P A N Y 1/ BATTERY PLACÉ ·· NEW YORK 4. N. Yr
2912
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C H E M I C A L
AND
ENGINEERING
NEWS
Fire fighters had tried water, foam, and f o g o n the rubber fire, which is one of t h e most difficult blazes to control. All had failed, but the wetting agent penetrated t h e crevices of the burning substance, w a s held there longer than ordinary water w o u l d before turning to steam, a n d so w a s able t o control the fire in 2 0 minutes. T h e material, Rockwood W e t , is es pecially prepared b y General Aniline and. Film Corp. for Rockwood Sprinkler Co., Worcester, Mass., in five-gallon cans for u s e i n fire extinguishers. T o assist efforts t o quiet the blaze, General Aniline m a d e 2 2 5 0 gallons of the material in special equipment, pumped it into a tank w a g o n , and delivered it to t h e fire in eight hours.
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Booklet Describes S a f e W a y t o S t o r e , Ship, a n d H a n d l e Sodium "Handling Ethyl Sodium in the Labora tory, In the Plant" summarizes pertinent information o n application of sodium, i n cluding recommendations for storing, ship p i n g , and handling. It describes storing, handling from storage to reactor, cutting sodium bricks, proper weighing pro cedures, and use of molten sodium a n d sodium sand or dispersions for both t h e plant and the laboratory. T h e section o n health and safety measures cautions against use of chlorinated hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, foam, or soda-acid as fire extinguishing agents. Proper protective clothing and first aid measures are also discussed. Copies m a y b e obtained from Ethyl Corp., 100 Park Ave., N e w York 17, Ν. Υ.
Shell Oil's M a r t i n e z Refinery Passes 2-Million M a r k A n e w safety mark of 2 million m a n hours of work without a single disabling accident has b e e n established at the Mar tinez, Calif., refinery of Shell Oil Co. T h e period covered b y the record extends from A u g . 15, 1952. This is the first time t h e consecutive accident-free hours at the r e finery reached this mark in 3 8 years of operation.
N u c l e a r C h e m i c a l Offers Film Badge Service For improved personnel protection, a film badge service similar to that being discontinued b y t h e Oak Ridge National Laboratory is b e i n g offered b y Nuclear Instrument & Chemical Corp. This serv ice is said t o provide accurate interpreta tion of gamma radiation from 150 k.e.v. to 20 m.e.v. over a range of 50 mr to 5 0 0 r. T h e company provides film packets on any regular basis convenient to t h e cus tomer. Provision has b e e n m a d e for meas urement of accidental exposure t o large amounts of activity b y means of a h i g h range catastrophe film w h i c h is processed in the event of blackening of lower range film. After development, all films will be returned to the user along with the in terpretation and a written report. S 1
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LOR CH Ρ • . · stable • . . concentrated . economical to use
Stannochlor is stannous chloride in its most economical form. A stable» anhydrous material, Stannochlor does not deteriorate with age—permits low-cost large-quantity purchasing. Solutions of Stannochlor, too, X20c2fte£e
