Potassium dichromate

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Inhalation:

Seek immediate medical attention. Remove exposed person to fresh air. If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen. If breathing has stopped, provide artificial respiration by trained personnel.  

Ingestion:

Seek immediate medical attention. Remove exposed person to fresh air and keep person warm and at rest. Wash out mouth with water and remove dentures if any. if victim is conscious, they shoukd drink large amounts of water or milk. If vomitting occurs, keep the head as low as possible to prevent vomit entering lungs. If unconscious, place in recovery position. Maintain an open airway. Loosen tight clothing such as a collar, tie, belt or waistband.

Skin Contact:

Seek immediate medical attention for large amounts. For small amounts, seek medical attention if discomfort continues. Remove contaminated clothes, wash affected skin thoroughly with water; Thoroughly wash clothing before re-use.

Eye Contact:

Seek immediate medical attention. Flush thoroughly with water for at least 15 minutes lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally.  

Fire-fighting measures

This substance is non-combustible, but it is a strong oxidizer and its heat of reaction with reducing agents or combustible materials may cause ignition. It releases oxygen during decomposition, which enhances combustion. Keep away from combustible materials. Potassium dichromate reacts strongly with materials that are readily oxidised. Reaction may be rapid enough to cause ignition. Combustion can be violent with finely divided oxidisable substances. Oxidising capability may also sustain a fire involving easily oxidisable material. Use fire-extinguishing media appropriate for surrounding materials. Flood with large amounts of water, and water spray may be used to cool down containers exposed to fire. In the event of a fire, wear full chemical-protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus  

Accidental release measures

Precautions:

For non-emergency personnel: Keep unnecessary people away; Ensure area is well ventilated and/or use appropriate respiratory protection; prevent skin and eye contact; Eliminate all sources of ignition; Contact emergency personnel.

For emergency responders: Protective clothing must be worn. The selection of clothing should take account to the magnitude of the release and the likely level of exposure.

Environmental precautions:

Prevent material from entering sewers, water sources or low lying areas.

Clean-up procedure:

Avoid dispersal of spilt material and prevent material coming into contact with soil, waterways, drains or sewers. Vacuum or sweep spilled substance into sealable containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Do NOT absorb in saw-dust or other combustible absorbents. Transfer to suitable, labelled containers for disposal. Dispose of at an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility.

Alternatively, reduce to chromium(III) and dispose of reduced chromium at an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility.

Handling and storage

Precautions for safe handling:

Prevent contact with eyes and skin. Avoid handling that leads to the formation of dust. Do not handle along with incompatible materials. Ensure adequate ventilation of the working area. Wear suitable protective equipment.

Conditions for safe storage:

Keep containers tightly closed. Keep in a cool, dry, well ventilated area away from ignition sources. Prevent contact with combustible, organic, or other readily oxidisable materials (paper, wood, sulphur, aluminium, plastics, etc.), strong alkalis and metals.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

3086

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

TOXIC SOLID, OXIDIZING, N.O.S. (POTASSIUM DICHROMATE)

Chemical name:

POTASSIUM DICHROMATE

Language:

English

Labels:

6.1 + 5.1

Special provisions / remarks

Special provisions:

274

Remarks:

None

Shipping

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

Shipping

Remarks

Shipping

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Engineering Controls:

Maintain air concentrations below occupational exposure standards. Processes likely to generate dust or fume should be contained within a closed system.

Personal Protection

Eye/face:

Approved safety glasses must be worn. Ensure that eye wash stations are close to the working area.

Skin/hands:

Protective clothing must be worn. Use chemically resistant impervious gloves complying with an approved standard; glove choice should take account of expected level and duration of contact. The selection of clothing should take account to the task being performed and the likely level of exposure. Hands, arms and face should be thoroughly washed after handling this product and before breaks and the end of the working day. Contaminated clothing should be removed with care to prevent skin contact during undressing and contaminated clothing should be thoroughly washed before re-use. Ensure safety showers are close to the workstation location.

Respiratory:

Ensure good ventilation to control exposure below exposure limits. If containment is not possible and/or ventilation is not adequate, wear an approved respirator. Suitable half mask respirator with filter P3 (EN 143). Use explosion proof ventilation equipment.

Thermal hazards:

Not applicable

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity:

Oxidiser. Readily oxidises combustible, organic or other readily oxidisable materials (wood, paper, sulphur, aluminium, plastics, etc.). Corrosive to metals.

Chemical stability:

Stable under ambient conditions.

Possibility of hazardous reactions:

Reacts strongly with readily oxidisable materials.

Conditions to avoid:

Heat

Incompatible materials:

Powdered metal. Reducing agents. Concentrated sulphuric acid. Combustible substances. Hydrazine and derivatives. Glycerol Sulphides. Oxidisable materials especially in the presence of strong acid solutions.

Hazardous Decomposition Products:

Thermal decomposition may produce chromic oxide or other oxides of chromium. Thermal decomposition begins at 500°C.

Disposal considerations

Ensure local and national regulatory requirements are met.

Do not discharge into sewers or waterways. Do not incinerate or dispose of in landfill. Reclaim if possible. If reclamation is not possible, dispose of at an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility.

Alternatively, reduce to trivalent Cr(III) and dispose of at an appropriately licensed waste disposal facility.

All containers should be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner and in accordance with governmental regulations.