Flue dust, precious metal refining

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Inhalation: Get medical attention immediately. Move exposed person to fresh air. If it is suspected that fumes are still present, the rescuer should wear an appropriate mask or self-contained breathing apparatus. Keep person warm and at rest. If not breathing, if breathing is irregular or if respiratory arrest occurs, provide artificial respiration or oxygen by trained personnel.........

Ingestion: Get medical attention immediately. Wash out mouth with water. Remove dentures if any. Move exposed person to fresh air. Keep person warm and at rest. If material has been swallowed and the exposed person is conscious, give small quantities of water to drink. Stop if the exposed person feels sick as vomiting as vomiting may be dangerous......

Skin Contact: Get medical attention immediately. Flush contaminated skin with plenty of water. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash contaminated clothing and shoes. Wash contaminated clothing thoroughly with water before removing it, or wear gloves.......

Eye Contact: Get medical attention immediately. Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Check for and remove any contact lenses. Continue to rinse for at least 10 minutes. Chemical burns must be treated promptly by a physician.

Fire-fighting measures

Use an extinguishing agent suitable for the surrounding fire.

No specific fire or explosion hazard.

Promptly isolate the scene by removing all persons from the vicinity of the incident if there is a fire. No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training. This material is toxic to aquatic organisms. Fire water contaminated with this material must be contained and prevented from being discharged to any waterway, sewer or drain.

Hazardous thermal decomposition products: Decomposition products may include the following materials: sulphur oxides, halogenated compounds, metal oxide/oxides.

Special protective equipment for Fire-Fighters: Fire-fighters should wear appropriate protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCUBA) with a full face-piece operated in positive pressure mode.

Accidental release measures

In cases of accident, procedural and/or control technologies must be used to minimise emissions and the resulting exposure during purification or cleaning and maintenance procedures

Personal Precautions: No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training. Evacuate surrounding areas. Keep unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering. Do not touch or walk through spilt material. Provide adequate ventilation. Wear appropriate respirator when ventilation is inadequate. Put on appropriate personal protective equipment.

Environmental Precautions: Avoid dispersal of spilt material and runoff and contact with soil, waterways, drains and sewers. Inform the relevant authorities if the product has caused environmental pollution (sewers, waterways, soil or air).

Methods for Cleaning up Large Spill: Move containers from spill area. Approach release from upwind. Prevent entry into sewers, water courses, basements or confined areas. Vacuum or sweep up material and place in a designated, labelled waste container. Dispose of via a licensed waste disposal contractor.

Note: All accidental releases of refinables handled in this manner.

Handling and storage

Only properly trained and authorised personnel must handle the substance

Substance-handling procedures must be well documented and strictly supervised by the site operator

Store in accordance with local regulations. Store in original container protected from sunlight in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials and food and drink. Keep container tightly closed and sealed until ready for use. Containers that have been opened must be carefully re-sealed and kept upright to prevent leakage. Do not store in unlabelled containers. Use appropriate containment to avoid environmental contamination.

Transport information

Shipping

SpecialProvisions

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

Shipping

Remarks

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

The substance is an intermediate to be used under Strictly Controlled Conditions. Procedural and control technologies must be used that minimise emission and any resulting exposure.

Only properly trained and authorised personnel must handle the substance.

In the case of cleaning and maintenance works, special procedures such as purging and washing must be applied before the system is opened and entered.

If user operations generate dust, fumes, gas vapour or mist, use process enclosures, local exhaust ventilation or other engineering controls to keep worker exposure to airborne contaminants below any recommended or statutory limits.

Hygiene measures: Wash hands, forearms and face thoroughly after handling chemical products, before eating, smoking and using the lavatory and at the end of the working period. Appropriate techniques should be used to remove potentially contaminated clothing. Wash contaminated clothing before reusing. Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are close to the workstation location.

Respiratory protection: Use a properly fitted, air-purifying or air-fed respirator complying with an approved standard if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary. Respiratory selection must be based on known or anticipated exposure levels, the hazards of the product and the safe working limits of the selected respirator.

Hand protection: Chemical-resistant, impervious gloves complying with an approved standard should be worn at all times when handling chemical products if a risk assessment indicates this is necessary.

           Treatment of flue dust involves all processes under local exhaust extraction to remove dust at point source. All local exhaust extraction will be fed through filter bags, scrubbers or other mechanical controls to ensure minimal emissions. (Note: driver for minimal emissions is value of the material rather than scrapping just below an environmental emission limit.) Material transported in sealed drums between processes. Removal flue dust from processes for recovery is considered as a maintenance operation, happening irregularly. Localised exhaust extraction provided during removal process with strict adherence to positive air stream respirators. Site considered to be a bunded area – no run off possible.

Stability and reactivity

Under normal conditions of storage and use, hazardous reactions will not occur.

Under normal conditions of storage and use, hazardous decomposition products should not be produced.  

Avoid exposure. Avoid exposure during pregnancy. Avoid release to the environment.

Disposal considerations

Where waste is generated, procedural and/or control technologies must be used to minimise emissions and the resulting exposure during purification or cleaning and maintenance procedures

Return to the Refinery for recovery.

The classification of the product may meet the criteria for a hazardous waste.