acetate msds.pdf

8/11/2019 acetate msds.pdf

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

GENERIC INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

G eneral P roperties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

St ability a nd Reactivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

TRAINING AND J OB SAFETY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Em ployee Educat ion and Tra ining . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

P rocess Haza rds Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

HEALTH INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Toxicity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Industria l Hygiene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

P ersonal P rotective Eq uipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

BULK STORAGE AND HANDLING . . . . . . . . . . . .5

B uilding D esign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

St orage Equipment G uidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

U nloading int o Stora ge Tan ks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Tank a nd Equipment Cleaning and Repairs . . . . . .7

BULK TRANSPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Un loading B ulk Shipments from

Ta nk C a rs a nd Ta nk Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Sh ipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

STORAGE AND HANDLING OF DRUMS . . . . . .9

LABELING AND PLACARDING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

CONTROL OF VAPORS AND

WASTE DISPOSAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

G eneral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Air P ollution Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Discha rge to Na vigable Wa ters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Discha rge to Municipal S ewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Disposal of Wa stes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

EMERGENCIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13Fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Spill Ha za rds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Sh ipping Conta iners Da ma ged En Route . . . . . . . .15

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

APPENDIX:

P art ial List of Government Regulations

a nd Agency Recommendat ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15


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1. GENERIC INFORMATION

2. PROPERTIES

2.1 General Properties

See Ta ble II

All referenced d at a (except for hea t of combust ion)

ar e the DIP P R (Design Institute for P hysical Property

Da ta ) values, w hen a vailable, as of September 1993.

The DIP P R D at a Compilation File is developed under

the direction of the AIChE an d is updat ed annua lly.

This da ta bas e is a ccessible for on-line computer

searching. For more information contact:

American Institut e of Chemical Engineers

345 E. 47th S tr eet

New York, N Y 10017

Telephone (212) 705-7332

2.2 Stability and Reactivity

Vinyl aceta te is alw ay s shipped conta ining a polymer-

ization inhibitor. P roperly inhibited, vinyl acetat e is

sta ble under recommended storage conditions. High er

tempera tures or conta minat ion ma y cause rapid and

uncontrolled polymerization. Pressure generation

during such polymerization may rupture insufficiently

vented containers. Drums of vinyl acetate should be

stored out of direct s unlight; the sh elf life decrea ses

with increasing t emperatur e and decreasing inhibitor

concentra tion. For insta nce, drum s inhibited w ith 3-5

ppm hydr oquinone may be stored at tempera tures up

to 30C (86F) for periods not exceeding 6 months.Dr ums of vinyl a ceta te inhibited w ith 14-17 ppm

hydroquinone may be stored at tempera tures up to

30 C (86 F) for periods n ot exceeding 1 yea r. B ulk

storage of vinyl aceta te at am bient t emperatur es is an

acceptable practice when there is turnover of the tank

content s every 60 day s or less. Inhibit or levels should

be monitored if a sta bility problem is suspected.

Although storage of vinyl acetate under either air or

inert gas is acceptable, stora ge under a ir w ill result in

the hea d spaces ha ving a flamm a ble vapor composition

at normal tempera tures. It is thus safer to blanket the

vinyl a ceta te under a n inert a tmosphere. This is possible

becau se dissolved oxygen is not necessary for the

hydr oquinone inhibitor to function effectively in viny

acetat e stora ge and ha ndling; the monomer is actua l

more stable the l owerthe oxygen concentra tion.

B lanketing with a dr y gas a lso eliminat es conta minaTable I: Names

Chemica l Na me Vinyl Aceta te

Common Na me Vinyl Aceta te

Synonyms Acet ic Acid, Vinyl EsterAcetic Acid, Eth enyl E sterVinyl Aceta te MonomerVAMEt henyl Aceta te1-Acetoxyethylene

CAS Na me Acet ic Acid, E thenyl Ester

CA Regist ry Number 108-05-4

Chemica l Formula CH 3COOCH=CH2

Table II :

Properties and Characteristics of Vinyl Acetate

Formula Weight 86.09

P hysica l S ta te Liquid

Fla mma ble Limits (Vol. % LE L: 2.6in Air a t 760 mm H g) U EL: 13.4

Flash P ointTag Closed Cup (ASTM D 56) -8 C (18 F)Tag Open Cup (ASTM D 1310) -4 C (25 F)

Aut oign it ion Tem per at ur e 426.9 C (800 F )

B oilin g P oint a t 760 mm Hg 72.7 C (162.9 F )

Relative Eva pora tion Ra te 8.9(n-Bu tyl Acetat e = 1)

Vapor P ressurea t 60 C 487.4 mm H ga t 40 C 222.1 mm H ga t 20 C 89.1 mm H g

Antoine Equa t ion Coeff icients Log P = A - (B/(T + C))Log = Ba se 10, T = C , P = mm Hg Range = 10 to 83C

A 7.51868B 1452.058C 240.588

Crit ica l Tempera ture 246 C

Crit ica l P ressure 574.0 psia (39.0 a tm)

Color Clea r a nd colorless

Specific G ra vit y (20/20 C) 0.934

Va por Density (Air = 1.00) 2.97

Viscosity a t 20 C 0.43 cps

Freezing P oint -92.8 C (-135 F)

H ea t of Com bu st ion (25 C ) -495.0 K ca l/m ole

H ea t of Va por iza t ion (1 a t m) 87.6 ca l/g

Hea t of Format ion (liquid at 25 C) -83.5 Kcal/mole

H ea t of P olymeriza tion 21.3 Kca l/mole

S pecif ic H ea t a t 20 C (li qu id ) 0. 46 ca l /g ra m C

Odor Not unplea sa nt ,sweetish smell insmall qua ntities.

Rea ctivity Rea ctive with self a ndvar iety of other chem-icals. Stable whenproperly stored a ndinhibited. S ee Section2.2 for details.

Water SolubilityVinyl Acetate in Water at 20 C 2.3 %by weightWater in Vinyl Acetate at 20 C 1 %by weight

Light Sensit ivity Light promot espolymerization

E lect r ica l Con du ct iv it y a t 23 C 2. 6 x 104 pS /m(1 S = 1 mho)

Refractive index, n D20 1.3953

Surfa ce tension (20 C) 23.6 dynes/cm

Coefficient of cubical expa nsion .00137 per C at 20 C


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tion of the monomer with a tmospheric moisture an d

the a ttenda nt hyd rolysis to acetic acid a nd a ceta ldehyde.

B eca use of vinyl a ceta tes rea ctivity, it mu st be kept

out of conta ct w ith peroxides, hydroperoxides, hydro-

gen peroxide, azo compounds, and other polymerization

initiators, as w ell as strong acids, alka lis or oxidizing

a gents. Exposure to sunlight, ult ra violet light, orX-ra ys ma y result in sponta neous polymerization.

Vinyl aceta te should be stored and ha ndled in rust-

free ca rbon steel or mild st eel equipment. S ta inless

steel, aluminu m, a nd h igh ba ked phenolic-lined steel

a re also suita ble. However, many other common lining

ma teria ls are a tt acked by vinyl acetat e. Copper, copper

a lloys (such as bra ss or ad mira lty meta l), zinc a nd

galva nized steel should not come into conta ct wit h vinyl

a ceta te because of possible a dverse effects on end uses.

3. TRAINING AND JOB SAFETY

3.1 Employee Education and Training

B ecause of the haza rds a ssociated w ith vinyl acetate,

a ll personnel with responsibilities for ha ndling it

should be ma de familia r wit h its properties and sh ouldbe thoroughly tra ined on th e storage and han dling

requirements, including a ll applica ble government

occupational safety, health and environmental regu-

lat ions. Furtherm ore, the tr ain ing should be conducted

by persons w ith kn owledge and experience in t hese

area s and must also, at a minimum, meet the require-

ments of government regula tions.

3.2 Process Hazard Analysis

Ea ch step in th e process of ha ndling a nd using vinyl

a ceta te should be reviewed for haza rds. The review

should cover th e appropriateness of the equipment a nd

the procedures for using the equipment. The reviewtea m should include personnel directly involved in the

operation, as well as technical and safety specialists.

The sa fety review must meet the requ irements of

governmen t r egula tions (e.g., OSHA 29 CF R 1910.119)

a nd should include evalua tions of: process design and process controls persona l protective equipment government regulat ions, including occupa tional

safety, health an d environmental requirements response t o foreseeable emergency situa tions safety equipment, such as shower a nd eyewa sh sta -

tions, fire extinguishers, a lar ms, ventilat ion, relief

devices, grounding devices, etc.

Ha zards identified by t he review must be addressed

in a t imely man ner. Process hazard a nalyses must also

be repeat ed with a fr equency defined by government

regulat ions, or in th e event of an incident.

Where engineering contr ols a re used t o cont rol ha z-

ar ds, th e purpose and importa nce of keeping them in

service and good repa ir must be par t of the tra ining ofthe personnel responsible for han dling a nd using viny l

aceta te. Where extremely critica l processing steps a re

identified in a dva nce, appropria te levels of supervisory

contr ol should be esta blished.

Where engineering controls cannot completely eliminat e

ha zar ds, procedures must be in place to assure sa fety

an d personnel must be supplied wit h a nd tra ined in the

use of persona l protective equipment . Where a ppropri-

at e, signs should be posted to emphasize the ha zar d,

the use of protective equipment and limitation of access

to a uthorized personnel.

St anda rd operat ing procedures (SOP s) with sa fety

informa tion and Ma terial Safety Da ta S heets (MSDS s)should be availa ble to the workers at all times, and

should be the basis for tra ining t he workers. Audits of

work pra ctices should be conducted regula rly to a ssure

compliance with a ll recommended safety a nd opera ting

guidelines.

4. HEALTH INFORMATION

4.1 Toxicity

For current a nd more detailed informa tion on chronic

an d a cute toxicity of vinyl a ceta te, review y our suppliers

Material Sa fety Da ta Sheet (MSDS ) or contact your

supplier.

As wit h a ll chemical substa nces, th e health effects

associated w ith vinyl a ceta te depend upon how much

of the substa nce one is exposed to an d th e dura tion of

tha t exposure. Exposure-relat ed healt h effects usua llyincrease w ith increasing exposure levels (or concentra -

tions) and exposure periods. It is a lso recognized t ha t

for most t ypes of a dverse healt h effects, t here is a

t hresh old level of exposure t o the chemical below

which the effect will not occur.

Vinyl aceta tes odor may be pleasa nt a t first, but

quickly becomes more irrita ting. I ts odor in air ca n be

detected at approximat ely 0.5 ppm. Vinyl a ceta te va por

is irritating to the eyes a nd respirat ory t ract; the liquid

is irrita ting t o the skin. Most people find concentra tions

of 20 ppm to be irrita ting t o the thr oat a nd experience

coughing or hoarseness. S ome people sense irrita tion

at 4 ppm of vinyl aceta te in a ir.


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4.1.1 Acute Effects of Exposure

4.1.1.1 Ingestion (swallowing)

Ingestion of vinyl aceta te is not a n a nticipated route

of huma n exposure. Ingestion ma y cause severe irrita -

tion or chemical burns of the mouth, t hroat , esophag us

an d stoma ch. Vinyl a ceta te is slightly t oxic by ingestion.

4.1.1.2 Inhalation (breathing)

Inha lat ion of vinyl acetat e va por may cause irrita tion

to the eyes, nose, throat a nd respirat ory tra ct. H igh

levels of exposure could result in pulmonary edema.

Inh a lat ion of mists or aerosols could result in irrit a tion

of the upper respirat ory tra ct or nonspecific discomforts

such a s nausea, h eada che or w eakness.

4.1.1.3 Dermal Contact (skin)

Vinyl aceta te has a defatting a ction a nd ha s resulted

in severe skin irrita tion wit h format ion of blisters

following industrial exposure. Vinyl acetate can be

absorbed through the skin.

4.1.1.4 Eye Contact

Vinyl aceta te is a severe eye irrita nt a nd ma y cause

redness an d swelling. Eye conta ct with the liquid can

result in severe corneal burns a nd ma y result in irre-

versible injur y.

4.1.2 Chronic Effects of Exposure

There a re significa nt chronic effects from overexposure

to vinyl aceta te. For current informat ion on th e chronic

toxicity of vinyl a ceta te, review your suppliers Materia l

Sa fety Da ta Sh eet (MSD S) or conta ct your supplier.

4.2 Industrial Hygiene

4.2.1 General

The Nat iona l Instit ute for Occupational S afety and

Healt h (NIOS H) and th e American Conference of

G overnmental In dustria l Hygienists (ACG IH) have both

recommended exposure limits for vinyl a ceta te. NIOS H

recommends a 15 minute ceiling limit of 4 ppm, ba sed

on sensory irrit at ion. The ACG IH recommends a n

8 hour Thr eshold Lim it Va lue (TLV) Time-Weigh ted

Avera ge (TWA) for vin yl a ceta te of 10 ppm a nd a 15

minu te sh ort-ter m exposure limit (STEL) of 15 ppm.Verify these exposure limits with your suppliers

current MSDS .

The ACG IH h as designated vinyl aceta te as a n

A3 Anima l Ca rcinogen. This designa tion refers to a n

a gent w hich is carcinogenic in experimenta l anima ls at

a r elat ively high dose, by route(s) of a dministr a tion, at

site(s), of histological ty pe(s), or by m echan ism(s) th a t

a re not considered relevant to w orker exposure.

The Int erna tiona l Agency for Resear ch on C a ncer

(IARC) has evaluat ed vinyl aceta te a s a Gr oup 3

mat erial, which indicat es that it is not classifiable as

Vinyl acetate should be handled in a well ventilat e

ar ea or in completely closed systems. I n t he event of a

release of vinyl acetat e, the area sh ould be evacua ted

immediat ely. Only appropriately tr a ined personnel

equipped with appropriate safety equipment should

enter t he a rea. Full protective clothing (Section 4.4)

should be w orn when it is necessary t o work in an

environment conta minat ed with vinyl aceta te.

4.2.2 Personal Hygiene

Workers should be wa rned t o avoid breath ing vinyl

aceta te va pors. Appropria te respira tory protection

should be worn w hen exposure to va pors or mists

above the est ablished exposure limit ma y occur.

Workers should be fam iliar wit h t he loca tion a nd ope

at ion of respira tory protective equipment. They sh ou

be instructed to immediat ely report an y incident in

which vinyl aceta te ha s been inha led. Safety showers

an d eyewa sh facilities should be provided in the ar ea

in w hich vinyl aceta te is being ha ndled. Workersshould be trained to promptly wa sh a ny a rea of the

skin exposed to vinyl aceta te wit h lar ge amounts of

wa ter. All conta mina ted footw ear a nd clothin g should

be removed immediat ely. Conta mina ted shoes a nd

leath er items should be a ppropriat ely disposed of.

Conta mina ted clothin g should be properly laundered

Home laund ering of conta mina ted clothin g is not

recommended. Clothin g must either be cleaned by a n

industrial cleaning service familiar with vinyl aceta t

or properly disposed of.

4.3 First Aid

4.3.1 General

In case of conta ct with viny l acetat e, first a id shoul

be sta rted imm ediat ely. The pat ient should be referre

to a ppropriat e medical personnel, w ho should be pro-

vided with t he deta ils of exposure an d symptoms.

4.3.2 Ingestion (swallowing)

The patient should be ma de to drink large qua ntit ies

wa ter or m ilk. Vomiting should not be induced, beca u

vinyl aceta te may be aspirated into the respirat ory tra

4.3.3 Inhalation (breathing)

The pat ient should be removed from the conta mi-na ted a rea t o fresh air a nd should be monitored for

signs of respirat ory distress. If breat hing is difficult,

supplementa l oxygen may be needed. If breat hing ha

stopped, ar tificial respira tion should be star ted.

Respirat ory tra ct irrita tion, bronchitis, pneumonitis

pulmonary edema may develop. Contact a physician.

4.3.4 Dermal Contact (skin)

The exposed skin a rea should be thoroughly wa she

with soap a nd w at er. If t he exposed skin is not t horough

wa shed, blistering m ay develop 24 - 48 hours la ter.


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properly disposed of. If irrita tion an d pain persist a fter

wa shing, conta ct a physician.

4.3.5 Eye Contact

Exposed eyes should be irriga ted w ith la rge amount s

of wat er at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.

The eyelids should be held open and aw a y from theeyeball during th e irrigat ion to insure conta ct of wa ter

wit h all tissue surfa ces of the eyes a nd lids. Conta ct a

physician immedia tely.

4.4 Personal Protective Equipment

4.4.1 Availability and Use

P ersonal protective equipment is not a n a dequate

substit ute for safe w orking conditions and compliance

wit h sa fety procedures on th e part of employees. It is,

however, in some insta nces, the only practical mea ns of

protecting t he worker, part icula rly in emergency situa -

tions. The proper use of persona l protective equipmen trequires ad equa te tra ining of workers. The personal

protective equipment described in the followin g par a-

gra phs should be used wh en there is a potentia l for

overexposure t o vinyl a ceta te.

4.4.2 Protective Clothing

P rotective clothing ma de of chemica l- an d fire-resistan t

ma teria l must be worn in process area s. Whenever these

gar ments become conta mina ted with vinyl a ceta te, they

must either be clean ed by a n indust rial cleaning service

fam iliar wit h t hese products or properly disposed of.

Full protective clothing should be considered as fol-

lows: a chemical- a nd fire-resista nt suit , gloves, boots

a nd eye a nd r espira tory protection. See your suppliers

Mat erial Sa fety Da ta Sheet or contact your supplier for

additional informa tion.

For spills, emergencies a nd a ctivities with the poten-

tia l for subst an tia l or unknown exposure, use supplied

a ir respirat ory equipment wit h full protective clothing.

For routine operat ions with potentia l for minor liquid

exposure an d va por exposure below esta blished expo-

sure limits, gloves, monogoggles a nd chemica l a prons

are satisfactory. For routine operations with potential

vapor exposure up t o 10 times t he esta blished exposure

limits, NIOSH approved organic vapor respirators withfull face pieces should be added.

4.4.3 Foot Protection

Sa fety footw ear (OSHA 29 CF R 1910.136 /ANS I

Z41.1-1991) with built-in steel toe caps is recommended

for most indu stria l operat ions. For a dded protection

a ga inst chemical conta ct, safety footw ear of chemically-

resista nt m at erial should be worn over leat her safety

shoes.

Chemical-resistant safety footwear should be

thoroughly cleaned before reuse. All footwear con-

ta minat ed with vinyl a cetat e on the inside should

be properly disposed of.

4.4.4 Eye Protection

Sa fety glasses must be worn as minimum eye pro-

tect ion (OS HA 29 CFR 1910.133 /ANS I Z87.1-1989).

Sid e shields a nd/or chemica l splas h goggles a re recom-

mended for enh a nced protection. F ull eye protection

should in clude fa ce shields [full lengt h, 20 cm (8 in.)

minimum] with forehead protection in a ddition tochemical splash goggles when handling vinyl acetate.

If va por or mist exposure is sufficient t o ca use eye

irrita tion or if an emergency situa tion exists, eye

protection can be provided thr ough the use of a full

face mask in conjunction w ith t he appropriate respira-

tory protection.

4.4.5 Respiratory Protection

Respirat ory protection equipment (OSH A 29 CFR

1910.134 /ANS I Z88.2-1992) must be a ty pe a pproved

by NIOS H. This equipment must be ca refully main-

ta ined, inspected, cleaned a nd sa nitized at regular

interva ls and should be cleaned a nd sa nitized before

use by a nother person. Severe exposure to vinyl a ceta te

ma y occur during equipment cleaning a nd repairs,

when deconta minat ing area s a fter a spill or in case of

the fa ilure of piping or equipment. E mployees who

might be subject to such exposures must be provided

wit h a pproved respira tory protection, tra ined in its use

and care a nd medically evaluat ed to ensure tha t th ey

can sa fely use the equipment. Availa ble types of equip-

ment a re described as follows: Sit ua tions wh ere potentia l exposure could be great er

tha n 1000 ppm: U se self-conta ined breath ing appa -

ra tus (SCB A), positive pressure unit, wh ich permitsthe wea rer to carr y a supply of breathing a ir in a

cylinder. Sit ua tions w here potent ial exposure could be 101 to

1000 ppm: U se supplied air respira tors, contin uous

flow, posit ive pressure. Sit ua tions w here potent ial exposure could be 11 to

100 ppm: Use a ir purifying respirat ors (low level

concentrations only).

SC B As a llow considera ble mobility. The length of

time this a ppara tus provides protection var ies accord-

ing to the a mount of air carr ied and used. Where

mobility is r equired, only SC B A should be used.

Supplied air respirat ors provide air from sta nda rdsize breath ing a ir cylinders or from other reliable

respirable a ir sources. Conventional air compressors

or plan t a ir systems must never be used as a source of

respirable a ir. Air purifying respirat ors provide conve-

nient protection with considerable mobility. They

should be used only w hen exposure concentra tions a re

known t o be a t low levels. Follow t he ma nufa cturers

recommendat ions for use.

4.4.6 Head Protection

Ha rd h a ts (OSH A 29 CFR 1910.135 /ANS I Z89.1-

1986) a re recommended for prot ection from fa lling

objects, overhead liqu id leaks a nd chemical splashes.


6/17

5. BULK STORAGE ANDHANDLING

5.1 Building Design

Equipment a nd vessels conta ining vinyl aceta te

should prefera bly be isolat ed from other fa cilities by

wa lls and floors of fire resistive construction. Sta nda rd

fire wa lls ar e recommended for th e isolat ion of larg er

equipment a nd storage ta nks, while partitions of

plaster on expanded metal la the ma y be used to isolate

sma ller equipment from other combustible ma teria ls.

At lea st t wo mea ns of exit sh ould be provided from

each room or building in w hich vinyl aceta te is stored

or used. No port ion of such a room or building should be

furth er tha n 75 feet from the nea rest exit. Additiona l

exits should be provided depending upon the n umber

of persons in the building. (See NFPA Sta nda rd #101,

Life Sa fety C ode.) All exit doors should open out in

the direction of tra vel and sh ould be provided wit h

pan ic ha rdw a re. Fire doors should be of an a pproved

type. A fire resistive sta irwell w ith self-closing fire

doors should be provided w here ha za rdous operat ions

a re carried out on upper floors.

Operat ions w here large quant ities of vinyl aceta tea re used sh ould prefera bly be processed in outdoor

type st ructures or h oused in one-story bu ildings pro-

tected by a utoma tic sprinkler systems. Explosion vents

ma y be used to reduce destructive dam a ge to buildings,

ducts, mixers, blenders, dryers an d similar equ ipment

in w hich flamm able vapors of vinyl acetate a re liable to

concentra te. Explosion ventin g wind ows, roof an d wa ll

panels, skylights, light w indows, dia phragms, etc., may

be used to minimize building da ma ge due to explosion

pressures.

Since the requ ired a rea of explosion vents depends

upon such fa ctors a s th e intensity of an explosion,

vapor tempera tur e, type of structure, type of vent clo-sure, etc., th e determina tion of vent ra tios should be

ma de by experienced engineers. Considera tion ma y be

given t o explosion suppr ession syst ems. (Reference:

NFPA Fire Codes, Vol. 9 #68).

The need to segrega te floor dra ins from san ita ry or

process sewer systems sh ould be considered a s w ell as

the question of a dequa te dista nces betw een chemical

stora ge buildings and other buildings an d processing

equipment.

5.2 Storage Equipment Guidelines

5.2.1 Storage Tank

Vinyl a ceta te should be stored in ta nks ma de of rus

free carbon or mild steel. Sta inless steel, aluminum

high ba ked phenolic-lined steel are a lso suitable. How

ever, ma ny other common lining mat erials a re at ta ckby vinyl a ceta te. C opper, copper a lloys (e.g., bra ss a nd

admira lty meta l), zinc and galvan ized steel should no

come into conta ct with vinyl a ceta te beca use this can

result in possible a dverse effects on end uses. Howev

certa in passiva ted zinc-based coa tings ma y be accept

able. Consult your supplier for more informa tion.

A newly constr ucted carbon steel ta nk should be

prepared for service by sandbla sting a nd va cuum

cleanin g. If the clea ned ta nk is not to be immediat ely

filled w ith monomer, it should be closed and blanket

with dry a ir to retard rusting.

Type: Suita ble for fla mmable liquidsMaterial: Rust free steel, high ba ked phenolic-linesteel, stainless steel or a luminum.

Design: America n P etroleum Institu te (AP I)

Fittings: Nozzles for t empera ture sensors, ma nhocover, dip pipe, vent line, pressure and

vacuum relief valve, emergency relief

valve, man ometer level gauge, high lev

a lar m, overflow, fill an d discharge.

The design for an above-ground tank should incorp

rate a vertical shell , a flat bottom and a conical top.

Some sta tes may require that vinyl aceta te be stored

ta nks w ith int erna l floa ting r oofs. The design selecte

should allow uniform mixing of the content s wit h new

deliveries. The ta nk should be set on a concrete pad

within a concrete dike of sufficient capa city. A tank

well with a bottom drain line through the tank pad

will provide complete ta nk drainage.

B ulk storage of vinyl acetat e at ambient tempera-

tures is a n a cceptable pra ctice when t here is turnove

of the ta nk cont ents every 60 day s or less. Ta nks nor-

mally used for vinyl aceta te monomer storage should

be painted white to minimize heat a bsorption during

the sum mer months. Tan ks should be well grounded

electrically. Refer to NFPA #77 Static Electricity for

proper grounding procedures. The electrical resistancbetween the ta nk and ground must not exceed 5 ohm

Vinyl a ceta te stora ge ta nks should have check valves

on inlet lines an d remote shut off valves on outlet line

When filling, circulat ing or agita ting vinyl a ceta te

a st orage ta nk, care should be ta ken not to vigorously

disrupt th e liquid surfa ce (causing a st a tic cha rge)

unless the ta nk vapor space is inerted.

Vinyl a ceta te stora ge ta nks should not be locat ed

near hea t or ignition sources or oxidizing a gents such

as chlorine bleach an d should be in well ventila ted

ar eas. There should be secondary conta inment suffi-

cient t o ha ndle spills. Emergency response equipmen

should be readily available.


7/17

5.2.2 Temperature Measuring Device

The tempera tur e sensing element should be placed

near the ta nk bottom to ensure that it is alwa ys in the

liquid. In large bulk storage ta nks, additional sensing

elements should be installed. A high temperature

ala rm should also be insta lled to w arn of polymeriza-

tion. It should activate at a temperat ure about 5Cabove the normal temperature of the stored liquid.

5.2.3 Emergency Vent Pressure Relief Device

St orage tanks conta ining vinyl acetat e must be

equipped wit h emergency vents s ized according t o the

requirement s stipula ted in NFP A No. 30. Emergency

venting devices normally used for flammable liquids

a re considered t o give adequa te fire protection. This

type of device ma y not provide adequa te relief in the

event of an uncontrolled or runaway polymerization.

The vent a nd r elief syst em should be checked fre-

quent ly for plugging by polymer from condensed

monomer. H eat tra cing can alleviate th is problem.

5.2.4 Dip Pipe

Type: Size of inlet pipe, full height of ta nkMaterial: Same as tank

The dip pipe must be electrically grounded to prevent

the buildup of sta tic electrical cha rges during ta nk filling.

5.2.5 Vent Line and Accessories

A vent line an d a ssociat ed devices are required t o

provide a dry bla nket a tm osphere over the monomer.

This bla nket a llows for disposa l of vapors, reduces

emissions and prevents the hydrolysis of the vinylacetate. Although storage of vinyl acetate under either

air or nitrogen is acceptable, nitrogen is the pad gas

of preference, since the absence of oxygen prevents

flamma bility in the ta nks va por space and also mini-

mizes polymeriza tion of the viny l acetat e (see Section 2.2).

A conservat ion vent device ma y be used to minimize

vapor emission an d the am ount of blanket ga s required.

If a positive pressure, dry at mosphere is provided, an

auxiliary dryer is not required. If a dryer or overflow pot

is used, it should be checked frequent ly for plugging by

polymer from condensed monomer.

5.2.5.1 DryerThe drying a gent should provide a d ry va por spa ce

over the m onomer t o eliminate wa ter conta minat ion.

It can be installed on the vent line, pad gas line or

conserva tion va lve inlet line. The drying a gent is

usua lly renewed every 3 to 6 months, d epending on

loca l clima tic conditions. Ca re should be taken t o

prevent blocking due to polymer. Molecular sieves

and calcium chloride are typical desiccants. Silica

an d a lumina a re not recommended.

5.2.5.2 Flame Arrester

Type: Approved by t he B urea u ofFire Underwriters

The installation of flame arresters on tanks holding

flamma ble liquids ma y be required by federal, stat e or

local ordina nces or by insur an ce companies. For propersafety, they must be installed correctly in any vapor

(vent) line, with the exception of the emergency vent ,

wh ich can be opened directly t o th e at mosphere. Fla me

ar resters should be inspected at least once every 6

months for blockage by polymer. When using closed

circuit unloading, a n a dditiona l flame a rrester should

be insta lled in the va por return line.

5.2.6 Overflow Seal Pot

If th e capa city of the ta nk is exceeded during tra ns-

fer of monomer from a delivery vehicle, the excess

monomer should flow thr ough a properly designed

overflow sea l pot or sea l loop to a suita ble receiver.

5.2.7 Pressure And Vacuum Relief Valve

A pressure an d va cuum relief valve is required to

prevent the collapse or rupture of the ta nk caused by

plugging of the dryer, ina dvertent closing of a va lve in

the va por line du ring closed circuit unload ing or block-

ag e in the vent line or flam e arrest er due to clogging

by polymer. This device a lso a llows inh a la tion/exha la -

tion of the ta nk during extreme ambient temperat ure

changes.

5.2.8 Liquid Level Gauge

A differential pressure tra nsmitter purged w ith dryga s is preferred as the level measur ing device. This

gauge provides a continuous level readout with alarm

capabilities at any remote location. A high level alarm

set at 85%of the tan k capa city a nd a high level tank

feed line shutoff set at 90%a re suggested. Ma nometer-

type level ga uges or equivalent a re preferred over

gauge glasses, should the differential pressure style

not be used.

5.2.9 Pumps

Type: Cent rifuga l or self-priming centrifuga lMaterial: Ca st st eel or sta inless steel

Mecha nical seals a re typically used, but sea l-less or

canned pumps are also accepta ble. If ta nk cars or tan k

trucks a re to be unloa ded from the top, a self-priming

centr ifuga l pump is recommended.

CAUT IO N : I f sea l -less or cann ed p um ps ar e used ,

hea t gene ra t i on can cause po l yme r i za t i on i n the

pum p shou l d f l ow be stopped .

Ca re should be ta ken to prevent dea d-hea ding of

pumps in m onomer service. The pumps ca n a lso be

used to unload ta nk trucks not equipped w ith gear

pumps and t o transfer monomer from t he storage area

to reactors or other vessels. Pum p motors should meet


8/17

the requirement s outlined in Section 5.2.16 for electri-

cal equipment a nd sh ould be properly grounded.

5.2.10 Pipe

Material: Steel (schedule 40) or stainless steel

(schedule 10)

St eel piping should be clea ned of all greas e and scale

a dhering to the inner w a lls. All pipes should be painted

wh ite or otherw ise protected from the hea t of direct

sunlight . All pipes should be pitched to dra in a nd ha ve

no deadh eads. P ipelines an d associat ed systems that

will be dormant should be drained and cleared. Any

monomer remaining in t he lines may polymerize.

Nitrogen should be used t o blow pipelines clea n.

CAUTI ON: B low i ng l i n es w i th gases can gener a te

sta t i c cha r ges.

5.2.11 Valves

Type: P olytetra fluoroethylene (P TFE )-sleevedplug valves, globe valves, gat e valves,

ball va lves

Material: Ca rbon steel, ductile iron or sta inless steel

Ball valves with PTFE seals are suggested for on-off

service.

5.2.12 Gaskets

Material: Compressed fiber, compressed gr aphit e

or glas s-filled P TFE .

5.2.13 Filter

Type: In-line cart ridge filterMaterial: Whit e cott on fiber or polypropylene

wound on a stainless core or stainless

steel mesh

Rust particles or other part iculate ma tter can be

sat isfactorily removed from vinyl a ceta te by mea ns

of a cart ridge filter of the above type.

5.2.14 Fusible Link Check Valve

Some localities in the U nited Sta tes stipulate the

insta llat ion of a fusible link check va lve to stop the flow

of monomer from st orage ta nks in case of a fire in the

vicinity of the ta nk. When it is r equired, the checkvalve is placed in t he line between the ta nk valve a nd

the pump.

5.2.15 High Level Switches

An ult ra sonic type or differentia l pressure (dP ) switch

is preferred for high level switches, which should be set at

90%of ta nk level. A ca pacita nce probe would be a sec-

ondary choice for t his a pplicat ion. Float switches tend to

ha ve problems w ith plugging from condensed m onomer

tha t h a s polymerized. Typically, th e high level swit ch is

designed to close an actuated valve in the tank feed

line and ca n a lso be used to shut dow n th e feed pump.

5.2.16 Electrical Equipment

Electrical devices a nd insta llations in areas w here

vinyl acetate is ha ndled should be suitable for C lass I

G roup D ha za rdous locat ions (as defined by Articles

500 an d 501 of the Na tional Electrical C ode.)

5.3 Unloading into Storage Tanks

5.3.1 Storage Tank Vent Handling

When bulk shipments are un loaded, t he storage ta n

vent ga s ma y be returned to th e shipping vessel throug

a va por retur n line, or ma y be sent to a fla re or incine

at or. In each of these cases, the vent line must ha ve

flam e and /or detonat ion arr esters properly inst a lled

and, in some cases, must ha ve inert ga s a dded to

render the vent ga s non-flam ma ble, depending on

applicable regulations.

5.3.2 Hoses

To help min imize st a tic electr ic cha rge buildu p, onlelectrically continuous chemica l tra nsfer hoses should

be used for vinyl a ceta te.

CAU TI ON : Th ese hoses shoul d not be r el i ed on

to be the p r i ma r y el ec t r i ca l bond ; bond i n g and

grou nd in g cab les mu st be used .

Dr y disconnect hose connections th a t a llow only a

few drops of spilla ge when disconnected a re ava ilable

They also prevent excessive spillage if the connection

is accidentally broken during transfer. Contact your

supplier for additional information.

CAUTI ON : H oses shou ld be dedi cated to sin gle ser vi

H owever, i f th ey mu st be used f or m ul t i pl e ser vice, th

shou ld be clean ed a fter u se to avoid cr oss-cont am in ati o

5.4 Tank and Equipment Cleaningand Repairs

This section provides genera l guidelines a nd s ugge

tions for t he prepara tion and cleaning of vinyl acetat e

ta nks a nd equipment prior to entering for inspection

an d repair. It is not intended to take the place of a

deta iled procedure w ritt en for the specific job and

situation.

5.4.1 Preparation for the Job

Ta nk a nd equipment clean ing should be underthe direction of thoroughly tra ined personnel who ar e

familiar wit h all of the hazards a nd the safeguards

necessa ry for th e sa fe performa nce of th e work. All

preca utions perta ining to educat ion, protective equip

ment a nd health a nd fire ha zards should be reviewed

an d understood. See a ppropriat e sections of this ma nua

A stepwise procedure for the entire job should be

writt en and used to tra in all personnel involved with th

work. The procedure should include specific instruction

regarding possible hazards with safe procedures for

dealing with th ese ha zards, a nd should designa te

suita ble protective equipment necessar y for the job.


9/17

5.4.2 Preparation of Tanks and Equipment

The tank, equipment and associated lines to be

clea ned should first be electrica lly grounded and t hen

emptied of all liquid. In the case of large ta nks, it is

imperat ive tha t the ta nk vent and m ake-up system be

in good working condition to keep from over-pressuring

or collapsing t he ta nk. The bulk of the liquid sh ould betra nsferred to a nother vessel (for recovery or rework, if

necessa ry) so tha t a ny heel of liquid is min imized. The

heel should then be drained into a suitable container

for proper reuse or disposal. In the cas e of larg e storage

ta nks, it ma y be helpful to add a bout 6 inches of wa ter

to the ta nk to pick up the ma teria l in the low spots of

the ta nk. The liquids should be properly d isposed of.

CAUT ION: T he vapor space above even di lu te aque-

ous solu t ions of v in y l acetat e ma y be f la mm abl e.

Then t he vessel a nd piping t o be cleaned sh ould be

isola ted from a ll other sy stems by closing t he proper

va lves. Wa sh a nd flush t he equipment th ree or fourtimes with hot demineralized water, preferably 49 to

66 C (120 to 150 F). The dirty w a sh w a ter should be

collected in a sump or other suita ble vessel for proper

disposal, taking into consideration all environmental

effects. St eam m ay be used to remove fina l tra ces of

vinyl acetate. If polymer is present, a strong aqueous

detergent or caust ic solution can be used t o help loosen

an d remove it.

CAUTI ON: Do no t use caust i c o r a l ka l i deter gen t

so lu t ions when l i qu i d v in y l aceta te is presen t or

w i t h a l um i num equ i pm en t .

Finally, flush with cold demineralized w at er until th e

equipment temperat ure is below 38C (100F ). Dra in allthe wa ter from th e equipment.

Then th e lines in and out of the ta nk or equipment

should be disconnected a nd blinded for entry. Note:

Even th ough th e equipment ha s been flushed with

wa ter, proper protective equipment sh ould be worn

wh en opening flan ges. The equipment should th en

be purged with fresh a ir and the a ir should be tested

for vinyl acetate vapors and oxygen content by an

a pproved meth od before permitt ing personnel to enter.

Tan k entry is covered by OSH A sta nda rd for Confined

Spa ce En tr y, 29 CF R 1910.146 an d t he Lockout/Ta gout

Rule for Contr ol of Ha za rdous E nergy, 29 CFR 1910.147.

6. BULK TRANSPORTVinyl acetat e must be inhibited when stored or tr an-

ported. Conta iner clea nliness is essentia l. Tan k cars

an d ta nk trucks used to tra nsport other materials

should be cleaned a nd dried before reuse. P rior to load -

ing, all conta iners should be inspected to a ssure th ey

are proper for vinyl acetate. Each container should be

properly secured and free of leaks before offering for

tra nsporta tion. Empty conta iners containing a residue

of vinyl a ceta te must be secured as if they were fully

loaded for the ret urn trip t o the supplier. All a ppropriat elabels must be on shipping containers. Containers

must never be tota lly filled; outag e space must be left

to ma ke room for th erma l expan sion.

6.1 Unloading Bulk Shipments fromTank Cars and Tank Trucks

The use of ta nk trucks an d ta nk cars for the

bulk transport of vinyl a ceta te is a uthorized by t he

Depar tment of Tra nsporta tion in regulations 49 CF R

173.31 a nd 173.33, respectively. Section 173.242 lists

the t ype of bulk conta iners required for certa in

medium haza rd liquids. Rail tra nsport is expanded

in section 174 with t he ta nk car specifications deta iledin section 179. Section 177 expands t he highw a y tr an s-

portation requirements and Section 178 gives tank

truck specifica tions.

The use of ta nk cars w ith t op unloading fit tings is

preferred t o minimize the cha nce of leaka ge or spillage.

A dry nit rogen pa d should be used on the car to ma ke

the tr an sfer or to provide suction to a pum p. If the car

does not h a ve an eduction pipe for t op unloa ding, one

can be inserted through the manway. Alternatively,

bottom unloading ta nk cars ma y be used.

Upon arrival a t th e delivery site, the tank car or ta nk

truck must be inspected for leaks or damage. If there

ar e any problems, notify th e supplier, the owner of the

car or truck and th e railroad company even if the tan k

can be unloaded sa fely. Alwa ys ensure tha t t he dam-

ag ed car or tru ck is in accepta bly sa fe condition before

it lea ves your property.

When a t ank car or tank t ruck arrives: Check the shipping papers a gainst the placards

an d labels and seals a s a ppropriate to assure proper

identification. Check that the car or truck is parked w ithin the

designat ed containment a rea a nd tha t th e connec-

tions will reach the a ppropriat e fittings.

Chock the w heels, set the bra kes, shut down t ruckengines a nd set derails on tank car tra cks.

Set up wa rning signs as a ppropriate. Use electrical bonding and grounding to minimize

sta tic electricity buildup. Use grounded pumps or appropriately regulated dry

nitr ogen pressure (never air ) for tra nsferring viny l

acetate. The ta nk tr uck driver must be out of the t ruck

during unloading. Alwa ys be sure the tra nsfer equipment conta ins

nothing to contaminate the vinyl acetate, especially

str ong oxidizers, acids or bases. S pecial ca re is

required if dedicat ed equipment is not used.


10/17

Regula tions ma y require th e use of vapor contr ol

systems. Em ergency response equipment should be readily

available. As long a s th e car or t ruck is connected to your sys-

tem, it should be continuously attended by trained

personnel equipped with appropriat e persona l pro-tective gear.

If the car is open to the atmosphere during unload-

ing, a flame arrester is recommended. P rior to opening any covers, check the ava ilability of

the emergency shower a nd wa ter for wa sh down. B efore a ta nk car m anw ay cover, outlet va lve cap or

plug is opened, th e car should be relieved of pressure

through the vent va lve. B efore removing caps on nozzles, be sure the va lves

are closed. In some cases a valve ma y ha ve leaked,

building pressure between valve and cap. Always use

caution in removing caps even after having vented

the ta nk car. If hoses must be run a cross driveway s, set up barri-

cades to protect t hem. Confirm tha t th e tank to receive the material ha s

sufficient room t o hold th e entire content s of the

truck or ta nk car. If sa mple purging is done, a meta l bucket (not plast ic

or other non-conducting container) electrically

bonded to the sa mple line is required. B efore beginning t ran sfer, check th at any necessary

sa mples have been ta ken and check for proper align-

ment from the car or truck to the ta nk.

U se low t ra nsfer r a tes (velocity of 3 ft/sec.) until t hedip pipe in the ta nk being loa ded is completely sub-

merged in liquid, then complete transfer at a

ma ximum of 15 ft/sec. Do not make a tra nsfer during an electrical storm.

Your supplier m a y be consulted for a dvice on pa rticular

situa tions. Also, the Association of American Ra ilroads

provides informat ion on methods of loa ding a nd

unloading non-pressure ta nk cars in its P am phlet 34.

6.2 Shipping

6.2.1 Classification and Regulations

Vinyl aceta te is a ha zardous mat erial listed in theDOT Ha za rdous Ma teria ls Table 49 CFR 172.101. It is

also a ha zardous substance as defined by the EPA and

listed in Appendix A to the H aza rdous Ma teria ls Ta ble.

49 CFR Sections 171 to 180 describe the DOT require-

ments for shipping inhibited vinyl acetate by air,

highwa y, rail and wa ter.

6.2.2 DOT Shipping Information (as of May, 199

Shipping na me Vinyl a ceta te, inhibit

Ha za rd Cla ss 3 (Fla mma ble liquid)

U N/NA ID number U N 1301

P a cking group II

Report a ble qua nt it y 5000 lb /2270 Kg

P la ca rd Fla mma bleLa bel Fla mma ble liquid

Emergency response guide No. 26

7. STORAGE AND HANDLINGOF DRUMS

Dr ums of vinyl a ceta te should be stored out of direc

sunlight; the shelf life decreases with increasing tem-

perature and decreasing inhibitor concentration. For

insta nce, drums inhibited w ith 3-5 ppm hydroquinon

ma y be stored at t emperat ures up to 30C (86 F) for

periods not exceeding 6 months. D rums of vinyl a ceta

inhibited w ith 14-17 ppm hyd roquinone may be store

at tempera tur es up to 30C (86 F) for periods not

exceeding 1 year. St orage a reas should be well venti-

lated a nd should be awa y from strong oxidizers, heat

sources, ignition sources a nd combustible ma teria ls.

8. LABELING AND PLACARDINGContainers of vinyl acetate require proper labeling

before transporting storing, or handling. A Material

Sa fety D at a Sheet (MSDS ) should be obta ined, readan d underst ood; it is av aila ble from your supplier.

A sa mple vinyl acetat e label is shown on the next

page. It includes the ba sic informa tion on t he MSDS ,

the flamma ble symbol, the CH EMTREC phone num-

ber and t he identity of the shipper.

Typically, a conta iner of vinyl aceta te w ill bear a

label similar to tha t shown on the following pa ge. It w

usually have a num bered seal to assure the mat erial

has not been t am pered with. Trucks a nd ta nk cars

should carry t he DOT placard w ith the flamm able

symbol and the DOT ID number (see Section 6.2.2).

FLAMMABLELIQUID

3


11/17

Vinyl acetate(Inhibited w ith hydroquinone)DANGER!

Extremely flammable liquidand vapor

Vapor may cause flash fire

May polymerize explosivelyif contaminated

May cause skin and eye irritation

May cause allergic reaction

Possible cancer hazard:may cause cancer based onanimal data

Components, wt. % (CAS number): Vinyl acetate, 99.9%(108-05-4).

All com ponents listed as required by fed eral, C alifornia, Ne w Jersey a ndPe nnsylvania regulations.

Transportation informationShipping name: Vinyl Acetate, Inhibited

Hazard class: 3, Flammable LiquidUnited Nations no.: UN1301

Packing group: IIEmergency Response Guide no.: 26

DOT Reportable Quantity: 5000 lb/2270 kg

Handling precautions:Keep aw ay from heat, sparks and flam e.

Personal protective equipm ent m ay be

required for protection of eyes, skin and

respiratory system ; see M aterial Safety

D ata Sheet for recom m endations.Keep

containers closed w hen not in use.

Alw ays open containers slow ly to allow

any excess pressure to vent. D o not get

in eyes, or on skin or clothing. D o not

breathe vapor. D o not enter storage areaunless adequately ventilated. U se only

w ith adequate ventilation. D o not load

into com partm ents adjacent to heated

cargo. U se proper grounding procedures

w hen transferring. U se spark-resistant

tools. W ash thoroughly w ith soap and

w ater after handling.

First aid:In case of eye contact, flush eyes

w ith w ater at least 15 m inutes. C alla physician.

If inhaled, rem ove from contam inatedarea. If breathing has stopped, give

artificial resp iration, then oxyg en as

need ed . C all a physician.

In case of skin contact, rem ovecontam inated clothing and w ash affected

areas w ith large am ounts of w ater. C all a

physician. D econtam inate soiled clothing

thoroughly before re-use. D iscardcontam inated leather clothing.

If swallowed, the patient should bem ade to d rink large q uantities of w ater or

m ilk. Vom iting should not be ind uced,

because vinyl acetate m ay be aspirated

into the respiratory tract.

In case of fire:

U se C O 2 or dry chem ical for sm a

alcohol-type aqueous film -form in

or w ater spray for large fires. W a

be ineffective b ut should be used

fire-exposed structures and vess

potential for exposure to vapors oprod ucts of com bustion exists, w

com plete personal protective eq

including self-contained breathin

apparatus w ith full facepiece ope

pressure-dem and or other positiv

pressure m ode.

Unusual fire and explosion hazRapid, uncontrolled p olym erizatio

cause explosion. Vap or is heavie

air and can travel considerable dto a source of ignition and flashb

M aterial creates a special hazard

because it floats on w ater.

In case of spill:

Elim inate ignition sources. Conta

to facilitate clean-up. If potential

exp osure to vap ors exists, w ear

com plete personal protective eq

including self-contained breathin

apparatus w ith full facepiece opepressure-dem and or other positiv

pressure m od e. Place leaking co

in w ell-ventilated area w ith spill c

m ent. If fire potential exists, blank

w ith alcohol-type aqueous film -fo

foam or use w ater spray to

HMIS NFPA Key

Health: 2 2 0 = M inim alFlammability: 3 3 1 = SlightReactivity: 2 2 2 = M oderatePersonal protective equipment:X - 3 = Serious

4 = Severe

For Chemical Emergency spill, leak, fire, exposure or acciden


12/17

Prior tohandlingthis material,please refer tothe current MaterialSafety Data Sheet forrecommended protective equipment and detailedhazard and precautionary information.

DANGER!After this container has been emptied, it may containresidual hazardous liquid or vapor.

Avoid all contact.

Keep away from heat, sparks and flame.

Do not puncture, cut or weld on or nearthis container.

Vinyl Acetate, Inhibited

UN1301

disperse vapors. C lean-up m ethods

m ay includ e absorbent m aterials, vacuum

truck, etc. Avoid runoff into storm sew ers

and ditches w hich lead to natural

w aterw ays. C all the N ational R esp onse

C enter (800 424 8802) if the quantity

spilled is equal to or greater than therep ortab le quantity (5000 lb/day) under

C ER C LA Sup erfund.

Storage:

To prevent hazardous

polymerization Store in cool

w ell-ventilated area. U se only D O T-

ap proved containers. D rum s of VA

inhibited w ith 3-5 p pm H Q should be

stored at prod uct tem peratures not

exceeding 30C (86F) and for period snot exceeding 6 m onths. D rum s of VA

inhibited w ith 14-17 ppm H Q should be

stored at prod uct tem peratures not

exceeding 30C (86F) and for period s

not exceeding 1 year. B ulk storage of VA

at am bient tem peratures is an acceptab le

practice w hen there is turnover of the

tank contents every 60 days or less.

Inhibitor levels should be m onitored

if a stability p roblem is suspected.

Disposal of product and container:

A ll notification, clean-up and disp osal

should be carried out in accordance w ith

federal, state and local regulations.

94-D (12/31/93)


13/17

9. CONTROL OF VAPORS AND

WASTE DISPOSAL

9.1 General

The proper personal protective equipment a nd sa fety

considera tions ha ve been discussed in other sections of

this br ochure. E mpha sis should be placed on th e pre-

vention of leaks an d spills th rough ca reful design and

good operating procedures.

Vinyl a ceta te is volat ile a nd ma y give rise to vapors

wit h healt h effects as noted in your suppliers MSD S.Ca reless hand ling, beca use of the low odor th reshold

(about 0.5 ppm), may elicit complaints from neighbors,

particularly in urban a reas.

Federal, sta te a nd local r egulations require producers

a nd users of chemical products t o be fully aw a re of a ll

a pplicable laws a nd regula tions. It is essent ial for pro-

ducers and users to be a wa re of viable alterna tives for

sa fe control of discha rges an d disposa l of wa stes an d

tha t considera tion be given to a ir, wa ter (surfa ce a nd

ground) and land pollution potential w hen ha ndling,

processing or disposing of vinyl a ceta te.

If a spill occurs, only tr ain ed a nd equipped personnel

should remain in t he a rea for cleanup. The spilledmonomer mus t be collected a nd d isposed of properly

(see Section 10.2). Alth ough sma ll spills ma y be wa shed

down with w at er, their ultimate disposal must t ake

into a ccount local conditions, fire haza rd a nd pollution

of the envir onment (see Section 10.2). Trea tm ent of the

affected ar ea w ith lime or other alkaline materials ma y

be desirable. Refer to Section 9.5 for information on

disposal of vinyl a cetat e wa ste.

A part ial list of government regula tions and a gency

recommenda tions for vinyl a ceta te can be found in t he

Appendix.

9.2 Air Pollution ControlAtmospheric emissions of vinyl a ceta te a re subject to

federal, state and local regulations. Ozone in the atmo-

sphere is a r esult of volat ile orga nic compounds r eacting

wit h nit rogen oxides in th e presence of sunlight. The

vinyl aceta te at mospheric ha lf life has been ca lcula ted

to be 0.6 da ys.

Regulat ory auth orities may require stringent controls

for vinyl acetat e emissions beca use this monomer has a

low odor th reshold and ma y cause discomfort a t low

ambient air concentrations. Some regulations require

vapor recovery or oth er emission a bat ement syst ems

for bulk stora ge, loa ding a nd unload ing of vola tile

organic compounds. Regulations ma y a lso require a

fugitive emission monitoring progra m w hich involves

inspection a nd ma intena nce of valves, pumps an d com-

pressors associated w ith t he tra nsfer of volat ile organic

compounds.

All a pplica ble government a l regula tions for contr olling

air pollution should be reviewed t o ensure compliance.

The air pollution control division of most state environ-menta l agencies is able to provide guidance on sta nda rds

which must be met a nd a ny permits or other operat ing

aut hority w hich ma y be needed.

B uildings used for processing or storage should be

well-ventilat ed to prevent loca l a ccumula tion of vapors

an d t heir effects upon personnel. Ventila tion meth ods

include local exhau st a nd genera l dilution procedures.

Local exha ust is most effective wh ere vapors are emit-

ted from loca l sources, such a s liquid t ra nsfer points,

pump houses and the rea ctor area . The method ma y

involve operat ion with in a n exhau st hood or removal of

vapors thr ough ducts connected to an exhaust fan (see

Section 10.1.1 for specificat ion of electrica l equipm ent ).G eneral dilution ventilation ma y be used when vapors

are emitted from scat tered points th roughout a storage

or processing area . In th is method, vapors are diluted

an d expelled by cha nging t he air w ithin t he room or

building.

The ACG IH offers a publica tion entitled Indust ria l

Ventila tion: A Man ua l of Recommended Pra ctice.

This ma nua l should be consulted for informat ion on t he

design of exhaust hoods a nd ventilating equipment a nd

recommended dilution a ir cha nge ra tes. Whichever

ventila tion procedure is a dopted, t he level of va pors

can be held to a m inimum by keeping equipment in

good repair a nd by confining all volatile ma teria ls. This

ventilat ed air ma y require odor abat ement.

Vinyl a ceta te emissions from point sources can be

reduced by scrubbing w ith a caustic a nd/or an a mine

solution, a dsorption on activa ted carbon, venting t o a

flare, incinerat ion or a combina tion of these methods.

9.2.1 Scrubbing with Caustic Solution

Air streams conta minat ed with vinyl aceta te vapors

can be purified by a bsorbing the vapors in aq ueous

sodium hy droxide a nd/or am ine solution.

CAUT IO N : The system shou l d be proper l y eng i -

neer ed t o avoi d d i r ec t con ta c t o f l i qu i d v i ny l aceta te w i th cau st i c or a mi ne so lu t ions .

Additiona l informa tion and a dvice is ava ilable from

your supplier. Note t ha t d ischa rge of the spent scrub-

bing solution is regula ted by federal, sta te an d local

authorities.

9.2.2 Adsorption on Activated Carbon

Ca nisters of activat ed ca rbon should only be used

after a scrubbing system as a finishing bed.

CAUT ION : Du r in g the adsor pt i on process, oxidat i on

an d evolu t i on of heat may occur , wh ich can r a i se the

temperat ur e of t he adsorbent. At h igh vin yl acetat e con-

cent r at ion s, local over heati ng m ay ign i t e th e system.


14/17

For this reason, a flame a rrester should be installed

between the vapor source and adsorption canisters.

The activa ted car bon may be regenera ted or disposed

of after u se. The disposal of the spent a dsorbent is reg-

ulated by federal, sta te, and local aut horities.

9.3 Discharge to Navigable WatersFederal law prohibits discha rge of pollutant s t o any

wa ter without a permit. Some sta tes have authority to

issue permits under the Nat ional P ollutant Discharge

Eliminat ion S ystem (NPDE S). For th ose which do not,

an NP DE S permit must be obtained from the E nviron-

menta l P rotection Agency (EPA). In some cases, a permit

may also be required from state or local authorities. The

term pollutant is defined in such a wa y tha t tra ces of

vinyl acetate may be prohibited. Consult the effluent

guidelines regulations promulgated for industries

specified in th e Clea n Wa ter Act. The w a ter d ivisions of

most state environmental agencies are able to provide

guida nce for the permit s needed. In the permits, limitsare usua lly placed on a number of pollutant para me-

ters. Those to which vinyl a ceta te contr ibutes include

B OD5 (B iochemical Oxygen Dema nd 5 day), COD

(Ch emica l Oxygen Dem a nd) an d TOD (Tota l Oxygen

Demand), all of which measure the oxygen required to

destroy th e mat erial under different conditions. The

following table gives the available data on vinyl acetate,

wh ich is considered to be read ily biodegra da ble (OEC D

test, Guideline 301).

Table IIImg O2 Demand per mg Vinyl Acetate

Calc.COD TOD B OD 5 B OD 10 B OD 20

1.43 1.67 0.63 1.03 1.36

Vinyl acetate is biodegradable in a biological treatment

system w ith properly acclima ted bacteria . Vinyl acetat e

is hydrolyzed to acetic acid and acetaldehyde in fresh

wa ter w ith a disa ppea ra nce rat e of 8%/da y a t 20C

(68 F) and 5%/da y a t 4 C (39 F) at pH = 7.

9.4 Discharge to Municipal Sewers

Discha rges wh ich flow t o a P ublicly-Own ed Treat ment

Works (POTW) do not r equire an NP DE S permit . TheP OTW ma y require a permit a nd there may be an ordi-

na nce specifying limits t o specific para meters. In a ddition,

there are Federal P retreatment Regulations applicable to

discharges to a P OTW. There a re some general a nd some

specific prohibitions. The POTW may be required to have

a pretreat ment program which ma y place certain

requirements on your discharge. The POTW should be

a ble to provide all the informa tion needed to meet a ll

a gency regula tions. As long a s the vinyl a ceta te is com-

pletely dissolved in th e discharge, (see solubility da ta in

ta ble II) it w ill be included in the mea surement of BOD 5.

9.5 Disposal of Wastes

Was te cont ain ing vinyl aceta te must be treat ed or

disposed of at a federa l, sta te or local a uthorized facili

As a liqu id, this ma teria l cannot be disposed of direct

in a hazardous waste landfill. Preferred waste manag

ment is incinerat ion or burn ing for heat recovery.

P olymer ma y be disposed of in a permitt ed land fill or

incinerated.Aqueous w ast e stream s containing dissolved vinyl

acetate can be treated in a biological digestion system

which is part of a plant wa stewater treatment system

Trickle filters a re not recommended for trea tment of

vinyl acetate waste.

Though adequate dilution of concentrated wastes c

reduce odor problems a nd fire ha za rd, direct dischar g

of dilute wa stes to municipal wa stewa ter treat ment

syst ems m a y be in a ppropriat e (see Section 9.4). The

treat ment method and its impact on sewage sludge

must be considered.

Vinyl aceta te is toxic to fish an d is a ma rine life ha za

Vinyl aceta te is about t wice as toxic to fish in soft w a tas in h ard wa ter of pH= 8.2. Wast e conta ining vinyl

acetat e could be haza rdous under the ignitability

criterion (Wa st e Code D-001 cited in 40 CF R 261) of

the Resource Conserva tion a nd Recovery Act (RC RA)

10. EMERGENCIES

10.1 Fires

10.1.1 Fire and Explosion Hazards

Vinyl acetate readily forms a flammable mixture wi

air a t a mbient temperatures. Vinyl aceta te has a flas

point below 37 C (100F ) and is, th erefore, classified

as a Fla mma ble liquid un der Title 49 of the Code of

Federa l Regulat ions (by the Depart ment of Tra nspor

ta tion). Vapors are heavier tha n a ir and ma y tra velconsiderable distances to an ignition source and flash

back. Every precaut ion should be taken t o prevent

exposure to flam es, spar ks or other ignit ion sources.

St at ic electricity is a particular problem when ha n-

dling flammable materials; consequently, shipping an

storage conta iners, reaction vessels and tra nsfer lines

should be electrica lly grounded an d bonded. Electrica

devices and inst allat ions in area s where vinyl aceta te

is handled should be suitable for Cla ss I, G roup D h az

ar dous loca tions (as defined by Articles 500 a nd 501 o

the National Electrical Code). In setting up storage

and handling facilities and procedures, care should be

ta ken to conform w ith local ordinances and with the


15/17

regulations of underwriters and insurance companies

wit h respect to flam ma ble liquids. U nder fire conditions,

ra pid a nd u ncontr olled polymerizat ion can occur,

resulting in a n explosion.

10.1.2 Fire Fighting

10.1.2.1 Procedures

Fire fighting ind ividuals should be equipped wit h

self-conta ined breat hing a ppara tus (SCB A) an d com-

plete personal protective equipment. Use w at er spray

to cool fire-exposed st ructures a nd conta iners a nd t o

disperse a va por cloud if fire is not present. D rums or

ta nks conta ining vinyl a ceta te should be kept cool wit h

water (e.g. deluge system, fire monitor, etc.) to prevent

overheat ing with resulta nt failure of the conta iner

a nd/or polymeriz a tion of the monomer. Fire fight ers

must a lso sta y well aw a y from involved vessels since

plugging of relief valves a nd vent lines ca n occur wh en

the un inhibited va pors polymerize, increasing thepossibility of explosion. D o not presume tha t a vinyl

a ceta te vessel involved in a fire is safe just beca use

venting ha s stopped. U nless the vent is obviously

unobstructed, other indicat ions such a s pressure,

temperat ure and noise must be considered.

10.1.2.2 Extinguishing Materials

U se dry chemical, alcohol-type foam, un iversal t ype

foam or car bon dioxide for vinyl a ceta te fires. Vinyl

acetate a nd wa ter are immiscible and therefore wa ter

ma y be ineffective in extinguishing t he fire but should

be used to keep fire-exposed conta iners cool. U se CO2 or

dry chemical extinguishers for small fires an d a lcohol-type foam, universa l-type foa m or wa ter fog for lar ge

fires. How ever, since vinyl aceta te is light er tha n wa ter

a nd does not mix into w a ter, car e must be exercised not

to sprea d burning monomer by a h igh velocity w a ter

stream or through displacement by accumulated fire

fighting wa ter. Vinyl aceta te can float on wat er and

spread fire. Wa ter spra y ma y be used to flush spills in

order to decrea se exposures. Wat er spra y can a lso be

used to disperse vapors a nd protect personnel at tempt-

ing to stop a leak.

10.1.3 Fire Prevention Suggestions

Locate vinyl acetate storage, handling and process-

ing equ ipment outside or in a non-combustible or

fire-resista nt building. Do not allow combustible mat erial, brush, w eeds,

etc., to accumulate a round ta nks. P rovide adequa te venting for emergency conditions

in vessels used for storage, ha ndling a nd processing. Provide proper electrical equipment and adequate

grounding for sta tic electrica l discharge. When filling, circulatin g or agit at ing vinyl aceta te

in a st orage ta nk, ca re should be taken not to vigor-

ously disrupt the liquid surface (causing a st at ic

charge) unless the ta nk vapor space is inerted.

Regular ly inspect equipment a nd stora ge facilities,

especially vents and flame arresters. Immediately correct any leaks in equipment. P rovide adequat e local exhaust and general ventila-

tion in the working area a nd carry out regular tests

with a combustible gas indicat or in any area where

vapors might a ccumulat e. P rovide proper facilities to han dle any a ccidenta l

spillage. Provide adequate fire extinguishing equipment

including automatic sprinklers in storage and

work areas.

10.2 Spill Hazards

In case of spills or leaks involving vinyl a ceta te

(a flammable liquid), all possible sources of ignition

should be elimina ted immedia tely. Only protected a nd

tra ined personnel should remain in the a rea. A recom-

mended procedure for ha ndling spills is: Try t o locat e a nd correct th e source of th e spill or lea k. Assign tr a ined personnel, wit h th e proper personal

protective equipment, t o the clean u p operat ion. Cover the liquid vinyl aceta te w ith sa nd a nd/or oth er

approved absorbent mat erial. Allow the covering ma teria l to soak up t he spilled

vinyl aceta te. Remove the satura ted absorbent t o a sa fe area using

spark-proof t ools a nd equipment. Dispose of th e spilled ma teria l by biologica l oxida tion

(usua lly


16/17

10.2.2 Large Spills

Use proper personal protection (see Section 4.4). If

possible, conta in th e spill wit hin a diked ar ea, cover

the liquid w ith a lcohol type foam to aba te va porization

a nd/or chan ce of ignit ion an d proceed to recover the

ma terial in a ppropriat e conta iners. Every effort must

be mad e to keep the ma teria l out of sewers (da nger ofexplosion) a nd surfa ce wa ters.

In the event of accidental spillage of vinyl acetate

to surface wat ers or to a m unicipal sewer system, the

appropriate pollution control and water supply agen-

cies must be notified. Floating booms are a va ilable for

confining floatin g liquids a nd should be kept on han d

wh ere the possibility of spillag e to wa ters exists. With

their use, t he floa ting m onomer can be pulled into a

sma ller area an d skimmed off for recovery or disposa l.

Absorbing pads m ay a lso be used. These and other

a bsorbents a re useful on spills on th e ground or surfa ce

wa ters an d should a lso be kept on hand.

If conta minat ed dirt is classified as ha zardous wa ste,

under Federa l Resource Conservat ion a nd Recovery

Act (RC RA) lan d ba n rules, it must be incinerat ed in

a rotatory kiln type incinerator.

10.3 Shipping Containers DamagedEn Route

If a ta nk car or ta nk truck becomes dama ged en route

so that it can not proceed safely to its destinat ion, a n

evalua tion should be performed to determine if it can

be moved to a locat ion w here the content s can be safely

transferred to another container. Police and fire

depart ments should be notified a s w ell as CH EMTREC(toll f ree 1-800-424-9300). C HE MTRE C w ill n otify th e

producer. The public should be restr icted from t he a rea .

11. ACKNOWLEDGMENTSGrateful appreciation is given to the respective

Technical, Sa fety, Healt h, Environment a l, a nd

Manufa cturing Depart ments of each Company for

compiling the informa tion presented in this publica-

tion. Furt her a ppreciat ion is given to th e Technical a nd

Environmenta l, Health a nd Sa fety Affairs Departments

of Celanese for coordinat ing t he publica tion of this doc-

ument.References include:

Design Institute for Physical P roperty Da ta , American

Institute of Chemical Engineers, 345 E. 47th St., New

York, NY 10017.

Chemical Sa fety Dat a S heet S D-75, Properties and

Essentia l Informa tion for Safe Ha ndling and Use of

Vinyl Aceta te, Revised 1970, Ma nufa cturing C hemists

Associat ion, I nc., Wa shingt on, DC .

Vinyl Aceta te Monomer Applicat ions, Technical D a ta ,

St orage a nd Ha ndling, 1989, Quant um Chemical

Company, Cincinnat i, OH.

Acrylat e Esters: A Guide to Safety a nd H an dling, 2nd

Ed ., 1992; an d Acrylic Acid: A Sum ma ry of Sa fety a nd

Ha ndling, 2nd Ed ., 1991, published by the In tercompa n

Committee for t he Sa fety a nd H an dling of Acrylic

Monomers (BASF Corporation, Celanese, Rohm and

Ha as C ompan y and U nion Ca rbide Corpora tion).

12. APPENDIXPARTIAL LIS T OF G OVERNME NT RE G U LATIONS

AND AGE NCY/ASSOC IATION REC OMME ND ATION

FOR VI NYL ACE TATE

Compiled N ovember 1, 1993

Legend : XApplies; L List ed;

NL Not Listed

American Industria l H ygiene

Associat ion E mergency R esponse

P lan ning G uidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NIOSH (Nat ional In stitute for

Occupat iona l Sa fety and H ealth)

Exposure Limits/ID LH Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N

American Conference of

Governmental Industrial

Hygienis ts (ACG IH ) TLVs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ca na dia n WHMI S (Workpla ce

Hazardous Materials Information

System) Ingredient Disclosure List

(1%Rule) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chemical Inventories:Un ited Sta tes TSC A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Onta rio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Clean Air Act Section II I P otentia l

Huma n Hea lth Ha zards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Clea n Wa ter Act S ection 311

Ha zardous Chemical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Depar tment of Tra nsporta tion

(DOT) Ha za rdous Ma teria ls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

International Agency for Research

on Cancer (IARC) Unclassified and

P robably Non-Ca rcinogenic Substances . . . . . . . . . .

Massa chusetts S ubstan ce List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Na tiona l Toxicology P rogra m (NTP )

Testing P rogram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New York Sta te B ulk St orage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Occupat iona l Sa fety and

Health Administra tion

OSHA Air Contam inant s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N

OSH A PE L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N

OSHA P rocess Safety Ma na gement Rule . . . . . . . .


17/17

APPENDIX continued

PARTIAL LIS T OF G OVERNME NT RE G U LATIONS

AND AG ENCY/ASS OCI ATION RE COMME ND ATION S

FOR VINYL ACETATE

Compiled N ovember 1, 1993

Legend: XApplies; L Listed;

NL Not Listed

Pennsylvania Hazardous

Substa nce List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Proposition 65

(Aceta ldehyde Impur ity ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Resource Conserva tion a nd

Recovery Act (RCRA), Land

Disposal Restriction

Hazardous Constituents for

G round Wa ter Monit oring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Superfund Amendments a nd

Rea ut horizat ion Act (SARA)

Title II I, S ection 313 Toxic Chemicals . . . . . . . . . . . . .X



Title II I, Threshold P la nning

Quant ities a nd Reportable

Qua nt ities (for 302, 304, 311, 312). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X



Section 110 P riority L ists of

CE RCLA Ha zar dous Substan ces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Superfund Comprehensive

Environmenta l Response,

Compensa tion and Liability Act

(CE RCLA) Ha zar dous Subst a nces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Toxic Su bst a nces Cont rol Act

(TSC A), Sect ion 8(d) Hea lth

a nd Sa fety Da ta Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

Clea n Air Act 1990,

Ha zar dous Air P olluta nt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

SCAQMD Rule 443.1 VOCs,

VOC 932g/L: Va por Pr essur e

92 mm H g @ 20C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .X

acetate msds.pdf

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