March 28, 2024, 06:21:32 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Evaluating whether or not vapour from substance is hazardous.  (Read 3102 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline David Stirling

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
In my workplace our products are cleaned using a mixture of water and a highly alkaline cleaner as part of the manufacturing process. This cleaner is composed of sodium hydroxide, corrosion inhibitors and chelating agents. A tank is filled with this mixture of water and cleaner and is heated to 60°C where it is maintained. The products are lowered into the liquid then a lid seals the tank. Vapours are given off from the liquid. I am concerned that this vapour is harmful to the workers. My question: Does the sodium hydroxide evaporate with the water? (Therefore being inhaled by the workers)

Offline chenbeier

  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1348
  • Mole Snacks: +102/-22
  • Gender: Male
Re: Evaluating whether or not vapour from substance is hazardous.
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2018, 12:01:20 PM »
I would refer to the MSDS of the product. NaOH normaly doesn`t evaporate, but probably the other additives.

Offline wildfyr

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1771
  • Mole Snacks: +203/-10
Re: Evaluating whether or not vapour from substance is hazardous.
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2018, 01:11:40 PM »
Can you reveal what the product is made from? Is it aluminum by any chance?

Offline Borek

  • Mr. pH
  • Administrator
  • Deity Member
  • *
  • Posts: 27637
  • Mole Snacks: +1799/-410
  • Gender: Male
  • I am known to be occasionally wrong.
    • Chembuddy
Re: Evaluating whether or not vapour from substance is hazardous.
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2018, 03:03:40 PM »
While NaOH doesn't evaporate, in my experience many NaOH containing solutions easily produce caustic aerosole that can be quite nasty.
ChemBuddy chemical calculators - stoichiometry, pH, concentration, buffer preparation, titrations.info

Offline David Stirling

  • Very New Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2
  • Mole Snacks: +0/-0
Re: Evaluating whether or not vapour from substance is hazardous.
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2018, 11:00:55 AM »
The product is called "Spraywash XHD". No it is not aluminium.

Thank you for your posts!

Sponsored Links