Extremely Dangerous Acid Heritage Posts

Hydrofluoric acid is a major health risk. Contact exposure at 1% concentration can put you in the hospital.

Low concentrations of hydrofluoric acid can permeate the skin easily and is lipophilic. The fluorine ions will react rapidly with the calcium in your bones and blood causing huge amounts of problems.

Yes! On the morning of June 21st 2019 at 4 AM a pipe carrying hydrocarbon gas and hydrofluoric acid burst in the alkylation unit of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery. The leak began to evaporate filling the room area with a flammable and corrossive fog. The ground hugging vapor was about 10 feet high. Within minutes on site staff activated the Rapid Acid Deinventory system which safely isolated 339,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid. However, when the staff attempted to activate fire suppression systems they failed to activate. An operator attempted to start the water pumps manually but deemed it too hot and hazardous to attempt. At 4:15 AM the first explosion occurred, and two more explosions followed at 4:19 and 4:23 AM. Fragments of the refinery systems were launched into the air including a 38,000 pound fragment that flew all the way across the Schuylkill river. Five people were injured and nobody was killed.

Hazard Statements: H280, H300, H310, H314, H330

Hazard statement(s)

H272 May intensify fire; oxidiser.

H290 May be corrosive to metals.

H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.

H350 May cause cancer.

Precautionary statement(s) Prevention

P201 Obtain special instructions before use.

P210 Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. - No smoking.

P221 Take any precaution to avoid mixing with combustibles/organic material.

P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

P280 Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P281 Use personal protective equipment as required.

P220 Keep/Store away from clothing/organic material/combustible materials.

P234 Keep only in original container.