In heating asphalt unpleasant fumes arise which should be drawn off into
a furnace, or absorbed by a condenser charged with oil (Leymann); open
pans should be avoided, as injurious to workers.
Organic Dye-stuffs, Coal-Tar Colours.
(See also pp. 107-19 and 204-15)
The hygienic measures to be adopted for the prevention of industrial
poisoning in coal-tar colour factories are chiefly concerned with the
poisonous nature on the one hand of the raw material (benzene, toluene,
&c.) and on the other of the intermediate products (nitrobenzene,
aniline, toluidine, &c.) and the subsidiary substances (chlorine, acids,
especially nitric acid, &c.,) used.
The most important measures are as follows:
In purifying the raw materials (benzene, &c.) the distillation requires
to be done under effective cooling and in impervious apparatus. If
injurious solvents are employed (such as pyridine in the production of
anthracene) the manipulations should be performed in closed apparatus
if possible, under negative pressure. The fumes exhausted should be
carefully condensed by cooling or absorbed by a spray of water or oil.
In view of the poisonous nature of benzene, the apparatus, stills,
receivers, tanks, tank waggons, &c., should only be entered for the
purpose of cleaning or repairing after preliminary thorough removal of
all residue of benzene, complete isolation from all similar apparatus
near, and thorough ventilation. Workers entering the stills, &c.,
should always be equipped with breathing apparatus (smoke helmets) and
with a supply of oxygen. Other aids, such as safety belts which are held
by helpers, are not here advocated in view of the often sudden fatal
poisoning, especially as the rescuer is easily induced to spring to the
assistance of his unfortunate mate without the necessary equipment. The
frequency of such accidents calls urgently for the use of breathing
apparatus.
In the manufacture of _diazo-_ and _nitroso-compounds_ and generally in
nitrating operations poisonous nitrous fumes are developed. By reduction
in an acid solution, acid fumes and singularly pungent-smelling compounds
can be given off. If reduction by means of tin is practised, the arsenic
in the tin can cause evolution of the extremely poisonous arseniuretted
hydrogen gas. In sulphonating, sulphur dioxide can develop; and
sulphuretted hydrogen gas on heating with sulphur or sulphide of sodium.
All manipulations should take place in tightly closed-in apparatus
provided with exhaust, and the gases drawn off should be absorbed or
effectively carried away. In the case of many injurious gases it is
not sufficient merely to conduct them into the flue; they ought to
be condensed and got rid of. Thus acid fumes (nitrous fumes, sulphur
dioxide, hydrochloric acid vapour, chlorine gas) are neutralised by water
or milk of lime, or a solution of soda; ammonia or alcohol by water;
sulphuretted hydrogen and arseniuretted hydrogen by lime and oxide of
iron; aniline, &c., by dilute acids.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account