Trioctylaluminium

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

The following first aid measures are recommended :

Inhalation : Remove the patient to fresh air. Keep the respiratory tract clear. Give oxygen or artificial respiration if needed. Get medical attention immediately.

Eyes : Begin immediate eye irrigation with cool water for at least 15 minutes with the eyelids held open by gently seperating them with the fingers. Get medical attention immediately.

Skin : Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Remove contaminated clothing, including shoes, and wash with soap and water. Get immeadiate medical attention.

Swallowing : Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Rinse mouth with water. Drink 1-2 glasses of water. Do NOT induce vomiting. Get medical attention immediately.

Metal alkyls and solutions of metal alkyls react with air and with body moisture. Immediate flushing with large volumes of water will eliminate residual alkyl, carry away the heat of reaction, and cool burned tissue. Such burns will be predominately thermal and should be treated medically as such. Immediate application of cold water has been found to reduce the severity of burns. For treatment of injury or shock, the services of a physician are required.

Inhalation of vapours from metal alkyl and solutions of metal alkyl fires or decomposition may cause immediate irritation of the respiratory tract. Excessive or prolonged inhalation of vapours may cause "metal fume fever". Symptoms are throat irritation, headache, fever, chills, nausea, constricting sensation of the lungs. If signs or symptoms occur, remove to fresh air. If breathing stops, apply articificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth. Give oxygen if needed. Get immediate medical attention.

Spills of metal alkyl solutions may or may not spontaneously ignite depending upon conditions surrounding the spill. However, the flash point of the solution is considerably below the flash point of the solvent, and the flash point for solutions should be considered as less than -48°C. Additional precautions normally observed when handling the solvent should be followed when using solutions of metal alkyls. Breathing of solvent vapours may cause headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and loss of consciousness. If signs or symptoms occur from breathing vapours, remove to fresh air. If breathing stops, apply artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth. Give oxygen, if needed. Get medical attention. If pure solvent is swallowed, give a minimum of two glasses (500 ml) of water.

Do NOT induce vomiting. Get immediate medical attention.

Fire-fighting measures

This material is 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, a fire blanket, 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.

Advice for firefighters : Wear suitable protective clothing, gloves and eye/face protection. Wear a positive-pressure supplied-air respirator with full facepiece.

Accidental release measures

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 liquid leaking 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 (e.g. sand, dry earth, vermiculite)  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

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. Protect from heat and sources and ignition.

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 such as TOA, 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 (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM)
UN 3394 ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Chemical name:

Trioctylaluminium

Language:

English

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

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 (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

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

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM)
UN 3394 ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Chemical name:

Trioctylaluminium

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 (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM)
UN 3394 ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Chemical name:

Trioctylaluminium

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 (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

3394

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Forbidden

ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM)
UN 3394 ORGANOMETALLIC SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, PYROPHORIC, WATER-REACTIVE (TRIOCTYLALUMINIUM), 4.2 (4.3), I

Chemical name:

Trioctylaluminium

Labels:

4.2 + 4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Air transportation is forbidden.

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Skin protection :

Use full aluminised safety suit when transferring material (large scale) and whenever contact may occur.

Eye protection:

Chemical goggles and the aluminised hood of a safety suit. Tightly fitting goggles and face shield for small scale laboratory operation.

Hands protection:

Use loose fitting aluminised or leather gloves. Must be impervious. Replace when worn.

Respiratory protection:

Dust, fume, and acid gas respirator when working in irritating fumes from decomposition. Supplied air respirator if working in a confined area.

Protective equipment should be determined by the degree of possible exposure. Eye protection should include goggles or face shields for even minimal exposure. Exposure to large quantities, as in plant transfers, requires a full body aluminised proximity suit.

Gloves used in plant transfers or operations should be aluminised leather, preformed neoprene, aluminised vinyl or other fire resistant, non-reactive material.

Preformed rubber gloves may be used in the laboratory. All gloves used when handling metal alkyls and solutions of metal alkyls should be loose-fitting for instant removal if necessary.

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 each manufacturing site.

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

Stability and reactivity

The pyrophoric nature of TOA presents potential hazards not common to most liquid chemicals used by industry in tank truck quantities. TOA, being pyrophoric, breaks into flame spontaneously and gives off dense smoke when exposed to air. It reacts violently with water. TOA is a clear, noncorrosive mobile liquid with a low vapour pressure. Hydrocarbon solutions of TOA, 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 TOA will react with air and moisture at the surface of the solution, giving off dense smoke, heat and flammable gas.

Disposal considerations

The first step is to minimise waste generation.

The second step is to 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.