Safety Moment- Safe Storage of Highly Reactive Materials
Alkali metals like Lithium, Potassium, and Sodium are widely used in research labs as powerful reducing agents, they are also highly reactive. This reactivity carries major safety risks- as they are frequently responsible for lab fires. Some labs may choose to abate the hazard by quenching the product, but this must be done by a trained person using an approved method.
In order to reduce the risk of injury or fire, please follow these important safety tips:
Pure reactive metals must be labeled and stored in a mineral oil bath
Pyrophoric compounds should be store under inert gas, preferably in a glove box
If you choose to quench make sure you are seeking guidance from your Supervisor
Have written Standard Operating Procedures for all dangerous tasks, including quenching
Receive prior approval from you PI before working with dangerous materials
Incident Spotlight
Explosion and Fires Resulting from Quenching Lithium, Lithium Nitride, and Sodium
A student researcher found Li metal stored in a glove box under mineral oil. It had assumed a reddish-pink color indicating lithium nitride may have formed on the surface. Fearing a reaction, the researcher attempted to remove the material and quench it with isopropanol in the fume hood, as is normally called for in other lab SOPs. Without following an SOP, he conducted this exercise, sealed the container, and set it aside in the fume hood. Several minutes later he hear a loud explosion and witnessed a fire in his lab.
What could have been done differently? Should he have taken the time to write a SOP or follow an established one?
View more details by clicking on the picture below:
Class D Metal Fire Extinguishers
There are special fire extinguishers for metal fires, called "Class D." These extinguishers are usually yellow instead of red and are located all around the lab areas in Smart Energy and in several other areas where flammable metals are present.
Make sure, if you ever encounter a metal fire, never use water or a class ABC extinguisher- these may spray the materials and spread the fire. A Class D extinguisher expels a powder that will blanket the area and deprive it of oxygen.
If you have questions about Class D extinguishers send an email to EHS@binghamton.edu
