Trihexylaluminium

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

General advice: Move out of dangerous area. Consult a physician. Show the safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.

If inhaled: Move to fresh air. Consult a physician after significant exposure.

In case of skin contact: Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash off with soap and plenty of water. Immediate medical treatment is necessary as untreated wounds from corrosion of the skin heal slowly and with difficulty.

In case of eye contact: Get medical attention immediately. Small amounts splashed into eyes can cause irreversible tissue damage and blindness. In the case ofcontact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.

Remove contact lenses. Protect unharmed eye. Keep eye wide open while rinsing.

If swallowed : Clean mouth with water and drink afterwards plenty of water. Do NOT induce vomiting.

Do not give milk or alcoholic beverages. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious.  

Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed: Corrosive effects

Treatment : The first aid procedure should be established in consultation with the doctor responsible for industrial medicine.

Fire-fighting measures

Suitable extinguishing media : Fire blanket,  Dry sand, Carbon dioxide (CO2), Dry powder

Unsuitable extinguishing media: Water, Foam

Specific hazards during fire fighting : Burning produces noxious and toxic fumes.

Advice for firefighters

Special protective equipment for fire-fighters : In the event of fire, wear self-contained breathing apparatus.

Further information : Standard procedure for chemical fires. Pyrophoric

The following general procedures are recommended for fires involving metal alkyls:

No standard methods have been developed for extinguishing large-scale metal alkyl fires. Small fires may be extinguished using carbon dioxide, dry powder, or dry sand provided that a large excess of the extinguishing material is used.  Water based foams, chemical foams, and halogenated extinguishers should NOT be used.

The following procedure is recommended for handling metal alkyls when there are fires in the vicinity :

If a container is threatened by fire from an external source (not from the chemical itself), extinguish the external fire by conventional means, or move the container, whichever can be done quicker and with less danger. If this cannot be done, keep container cool by spraying water on it. Water reacts violently with metal alkyls but has been found to be an effective fire control treatment if one is thoroughly familiar with the violent reaction and personnel are properly protected from explosion.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions : Use personal protective equipment.  Ensure adequate ventilation.

Remove all sources of ignition. Evacuate personnel to safe areas.  Beware of vapours accumulating to form explosive concentrations. Vapours can accumulate in low areas.

Environmental precautions : Prevent product from entering drains. Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.

Methods for cleaning up : Contain spillage, and then collect with non-combustible absorbent material, (e.g. sand, earth, diatomaceous earth, vermiculite) and place in container for disposal according to

local / national regulations. Do not flush with water.

The following general procedures are recommended for spills or leaks involving portable containers of metal alkyls:

a. Water may be used (only if one is thoroughly familiar with the violent reaction and if personnel are properly protected

from possible explosion) to decompose metal alkyls from small leaks and to keep adjacent tanks or equipment cool.

b. If leaking liquid from a container is burning, move flammables away or move the container to a safe place, if possible. Avoid increasing the leak. Keep water, materials wet with water, and liquid fire extinguishers away. Small leak fires can be controlled with dry materials or with water, if one is thoroughly familiar with the violent reaction and if personnel are properly protected from possible explosion. If possible, use sandbags to contain and isolate the burning liquid. The use of

a remote control vaporisation system can be considered, particularly in the case of a limited leak which cannot be stopped. The water spray permits the agent to be burnt as soon as it appears, the heat from the reaction with the water and air to be absorbed, the combustion chamber and the adjacent equipment to be cooled off, the radiating heat to be decreased, and the gases emitted to be absorbed.

c. If gases leaking from the vapour space of a container are burning, proceed also as in item b). In this instance, the fire will very likely extinguish itself as the container vapour space pressure declines to atmospheric.

d. If liquid is leaking from a container but is not burning, ventilate the area or move the container out in the open, otherwise, proceed as in item b).

Handling and storage

Advice on safe handling : Use personal protection.  Smoking, eating and drinking should be prohibited in the application area. Container may be opened only under exhaust ventilation hood. To avoid spills during handling keep bottle on a metal tray.

Advice on protection against fire and explosion : Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking.

Requirements for storage areas and containers : Keep under nitrogen. Keep in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place. Keep away from heat and sources of ignition. Protect from moisture. No smoking.

Electrical installations / working materials must comply with the technological safety standards.

Advice on common storage : Never allow product to get in contact with water during storage.

Other data : No decomposition if stored and applied as directed.

Metal Alkyls are highly reactive compounds. Most commercially available Metal Alkyls react explosively with water with the concurrent release of extremely flammable gases, and they are pyrophoric, i.e. they ignite spontaneously on contact with air. The hazardous properties of Metal Alkyls make it necessary to take all precautions necessary to avoid accidental spillage.

Consequently, handling of these compounds requires rigorous exclusion of air and moisture. The products are transported under a nitrogen blanket in specially designed portable tanks. Transfer of the product from the production facilities into these portable tanks, and from the tanks to the customers facilities, takes place using closed systems in dedicated unloading stations.

Due to their pyrophoric and water-reactive nature,

(a) Metal Alkyls are rigorously contained by technical means during their whole lifecycle, including manufacture, purification, cleaning and maintenance of equipment, sampling, analysis, loading and unloading of equipment or vessels, waste disposal and storage;

(b) Procedural and control technologies are in place that minimise emission and any resulting exposure

(c) Only properly trained and authorised personnel are handling Metal Alkyls;

(d) In the case of cleaning and maintenance works, special procedures such as purging and washing are applied before the system is opened and entered

(e) In cases of accident and where waste is generated, procedural and/or control technologies are used to minimise emissions and the resulting exposure during decontamination or cleaning and maintenance procedures;

(f) Substance-handling procedures are well documented and strictly supervised by the site operator.

For aluminium alkyls, any contact with air - even for very small amounts - will be indicated by generation of smoke or spontaneous ignition. Therefore they are stored and handled in hermetically closed systems under inert gas like nitrogen or argon.

Connecting and disconnecting procedures of transport containers must be in place, along with procedures for breaking and reconnecting lines and reactors.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium)
UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Chemical name:

Trihexylaluminium

Language:

English

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Special provisions:

See below

Remarks:

Uncleaned empty packagings/transport equipments, ROAD (ADR/RID):

Empty packaging, tank-trailer, tank-container, portable tank,..., uncleaned residue last contained: UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Inland waterway transport (UN RTDG/ADN(R))

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (X333)
UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Chemical name:

Trihexylaluminium

Language:

English

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Empty packaging, tank-trailer, tank-container, portable tank,..., uncleaned residue last contained: UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium)
UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Chemical name:

Trihexylaluminium

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Empty packaging, tank-trailer, tank-container, portable tank,..., uncleaned residue last contained: UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Forbidden

Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium)
UN 3394 Organometallic substance, liquid, pyrophoric, water-reactive (Trihexylaluminium), 4.2 (4.3), X333

Chemical name:

Trihexylaluminium

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Air transportation is forbidden.

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Engineering measures: Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are close to the workstation location. Highly effective exhaust ventilation

Personal protective equipment:

Respiratory protection : In the case of vapour formation use a respirator with an approved filter.

Hand protection : Polyvinyl alcohol or nitrile- butyl-rubber gloves. The selected protective gloves have to satisfy the specifications of EU Directive 89/686/EEC and the standard EN 374 derived from it. Before removing gloves clean them with soap and water.

Eye protection : Eye wash bottle with pure water. Tightly fitting safety goggles. Wear face-shield and protective suit for abnormal processing problems.

Skin and body protection : impervious clothing. Choose body protection according to the amount and concentration of the dangerous substance at the work place.

Hygiene measures : Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing.

Environmental exposure controls: Prevent product from entering drains. Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.

Strictly Controlled Conditions:

This substance is handled under Strictly Controlled Conditions in accordance with REACH regulation Article 17(3) for onsite isolated intermediates and, in case the substance is transported to other sites for further processing, the substance should be handled at these sites under the Strictly Controlled Conditions as specified in REACH regulation Article 18(4). Site documentation to support safe handling arrangements including the selection of engineering, administrative and personal protective equipment controls in accordance with risk-based management systems is available at the manufacturing site.

Written confirmation of application of Strictly Controlled Conditions will be received from every affected Distributor and Downstream Manufacturer/User of the Registrant's intermediate.

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity: Risk of violent reaction.

Chemical stability: No decomposition if stored and applied as directed.

Possibility of hazardous reactions: Hazardous reactions : Reacts violently with water.

Spontaneously flammable in air.

Conditions to avoid: Conditions to avoid : Exposure to air. Exposure to moisture. Heat, flames and sparks.

ncompatible materials: Materials to avoid : Water

Hazardous decomposition products: Hazardous decomposition products include  Metal oxides; Carbon oxides

The pyrophoric nature of THA presents potential hazards not common to most liquid chemicals used by industry in tank truck quantities. THA, being pyrophoric, breaks into flame spontaneously and gives off dense smoke when exposed to air. It reacts violently with water. THA is a clear, noncorrosive mobile liquid with a low vapour pressure. Hydrocarbon solutions of THA, depending on the concentration and temperature, may not be pyrophoric. However, these solutions must still be blanketed with an inert gas such as dry nitrogen because THA will react with air and moisture at the surface of the solution, giving off dense smoke, heat and flammable gas.

Disposal considerations

Waste treatment methods

Product : Dispose of as hazardous waste in compliance with local and national regulations. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.

Contaminated packaging : Empty remaining contents. Dispose of as unused product. Do not re-use empty containers. Do not burn, or use a cutting torch on, the empty drum.

Safely treat waste liquids on-site in accordance with environmental regulations, or to properly dispose of the waste using a licensed waste disposer. The general recommendation is to absorb and incinerate.