The main hazards of oxidants and Organic peroxides are oxidizing or combustion supporting, explosive, toxic and corrosive. Of course, its danger mainly depends on the substance itself (internal cause), but its danger can only occur under certain external conditions (external cause). Therefore, as long as we understand and grasp their changing conditions, and take corresponding measures in response to these conditions, we can ensure the safety of transportation and loading and unloading.
1. Preparation before loading
(1) The cargo compartment, machinery, tools and equipment, as well as the operating area, should be inspected to ensure that there are no residues of acids, coal shavings, wood shavings, sulfur, phosphorus, and other combustible materials, in order to prevent chemical reactions and combustion, or even explosions.
(2) When shipping Organic peroxides that needs temperature control, check the good condition of the vehicle's temperature control cooling system, or avoid higher ambient temperature. Refrigerants shall not use liquid air or liquid oxygen.
(3) Bring necessary tools and equipment such as tarpaulin and ropes.
(4) Before operation, carefully check the integrity of the packaging, and pay special attention to the following points:
① The padding between the inner and outer packaging of the packaging should be solid to ensure that the inner packaging is not loose, and the padding material cannot use combustible soft materials (such as straw, wood chips, paper chips, etc.).
② The packaging container of Organic peroxides must be airtight sealed to ensure that the added inhibitor or stabilizer will not be volatilized or lost, and the words "inhibitor added" or "stabilizer added" shall be marked on the surface of the package.
③ Liquid cargo packages and packaging containers should have at least 5% expansion space left to prevent solvent expansion caused by increased temperature during transportation, resulting in overflow, leakage, or container damage.
④ Packaging containing ventilation holes (such as hydrogen peroxide) must effectively emit gas within a certain limit. The ventilation hole device should be above the liquid level to ensure that it cannot overflow or enter impurities under any circumstances, and should not hinder the function of the ventilation device.
⑤ The inner packaging of bagged oxidants must be moisture-resistant to prevent the goods from dissolving or clumping due to moisture.
2. Precautions for loading and unloading operations
① Loading and unloading sites should be kept away from sparks and heat sources, and explosion-proof lighting fixtures should be used at night. Light sensitive items should be protected from sun and light.
② During operation, tools that are prone to sparks should not be used. Collision, vibration, or inversion should be avoided. They must be lightly loaded, unloaded, and firmly tied. The packaging should be neatly attached to prevent movement and friction, and be strictly protected from moisture.
③ Strong oxidants such as Potassium chlorate packed in steel drums shall not be stacked. When stacking is necessary, there must be safety lining measures between the packaging.
④ The handling of oxidants (such as Sodium peroxide, Potassium peroxide, bleaching powder, sodium hydrosulfite, etc.) that are easily decomposed in water in rainy and snowy days must be waterproof before handling. After loading, the goods must be tightly covered with tarpaulin to prevent moisture.
⑤ It is strictly prohibited to use hand hooks during the operation of bagged oxidants; When using a handcart for transportation, it is not allowed to roll over the leaked oxidant to prevent pressure friction and fire.
⑥ Oxidants have a strong sensitivity to other goods, so they are strictly prohibited from being shipped in the same vehicle as the vast majority of organic peroxides, organic compounds, combustibles, acids, etc. Even though they are oxidants, they are not allowed to be mixed in the same vehicle due to their different oxidation performance. For example, hypochlorite, nitrate or other oxidants cannot be mixed in the same vehicle, and effective isolation measures must be taken before transportation.
3. Precautions during transportation
① The speed shall be strictly controlled according to the characteristics of the loaded goods and the road conditions to prevent the goods from violent vibration and friction.
② During the transportation of Organic peroxides that needs temperature control, the operation of refrigeration equipment shall be checked regularly. If any fault is found, it shall be eliminated in time.
③ When stopping midway, you should stay away from heat sources and ignition sources, temporarily stop or stay overnight on the way, and the vehicle should be supervised by a dedicated person.
④ When a vehicle malfunctions during heavy loading, open flame operations should be strictly controlled during maintenance. People are not allowed to leave the car, and attention should be paid to the safety of the surrounding environment. If problems are found, timely measures should be taken.
4. Fire extinguishing methods and spill handling
(1) Fire extinguishing methods
① In case of fire, Organic peroxides and metal peroxides cannot be put out with water because they can react with water to generate oxygen to help combustion and expand the fire. Only sand, dry powder and carbon dioxide extinguishing agent can be used to put out the fire. The agent in the foam extinguisher is aqueous solution, so it is also prohibited.
② Most of the other oxidants can be extinguished with water, while powdered items should be extinguished with mist like water.
③ Appropriate Gas mask shall be equipped during fire fighting to prevent poisoning. In the absence of a Gas mask, a general mask can be soaked in 5% sodium bicarbonate solution before use. Since the effective time is short, it must be replaced at any time.
(2) Spill treatment
During the loading and unloading process, if the oxidant leaks due to poor packaging or improper operation, it should be gently swept up and packaged separately. These oxidants that have been repackaged from the ground should not be shipped in the same vehicle to prevent changes due to contact with air or mixed with combustible substances. They must be left in an appropriate place at the shipping location, including small amounts of oxidants or residues that have been spilled and should be cleaned up and disposed of separately.