Lithium

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Description of First Aid Measures:

EYES:

- Immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting the upper and lower eyelids intermittently.

- See a medical doctor or ophthalmologist immediately.

SKIN:

- Quickly wipe off as much as possible, then immediately flush with plenty of water while removing contaminated clothing and/or shoes.

- Thoroughly wash with soap and water.

- Obtain immediate medical attention.

- Contact a medical doctor if necessary.

INGESTION:

- Quickly wipe material from the mouth and rinse mouth with water.

- Do not induce vomiting.

- Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

- See a medical doctor immediately.

INHALATION:

- Remove to fresh air.

- If breathing difficulty or discomfort occurs and persists, see a medical doctor.

- If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration and see a medical doctor immediately.

Most Important Symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed:

- Lithium metal reacts violently with water and is corrosive to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.

- Treatment should first remove as much of the material as possible as quickly as possible, then flush with  very large quantities of water.

Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed:

Notes to medical doctor:

- This product is corrosive and reacts violently with water.

- Treatment should first remove as much of the material as possible as quickly as possible, then flush with very large quantities of water.

- Ingestion presents a singular problem as emesis may produce esophageal damage and/or aspiration damage

- Dilution with water or other water-containing materials may produce a reaction that exacerbates the corrosive activity.

- Consideration may be given to gastric lavage with a large diameter tube for removal of material and then dilution with large amounts of water.

- Esophagoscopy may be of assistance in this procedure and to assess extent of damage.

- Treatment is otherwise symptomatic and supportive.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing media:

Dry chemical, CO2, water spray or regular foam.

Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture:

Hazardous combustion products: None

General Hazard: No known physical hazard, non-combustible.

Properties contributing to Flammability: None

Flashpoint: Not applicable

Flammable limits in air: Upper: Not available Lower: Not available.

Auto ignition temperature: Not applicable

Sensitivity to static discharge: Not applicable

Sensitivity to static impact: Not applicable

Advice for fire-fighters:

Wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) approved for fire fighting. This is necessary to protect against the hazards of heat, products of combustion and oxygen deficiency. Do not breathe smoke, gases or vapors generated.

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures:

Before cleanup measures begin, review the entire SDS with particular attention to Section 2, Hazards Identification; and Section 8, Exposure Controls/Personal Protection.

Environmental precautions:

- Do not wash into drains.

- Dispose of at a qualified waste disposal facility.

Methods and material for containment and cleaning up:

- Remove all sources of ignition.

- To prevent ignition, cover with mineral oil (or kerosene), soaking thoroughly, and place in oiled steel drums which are approved for transport.

- Keep water and moisture away from spilled material. Dispose of waste according to local and Federal laws and regulations.

Additional information are not specified.

Handling and storage

Precautions for safe handling:

- Wear safety glasses or goggles and dry rubber gloves.

- Where relative humidity is maintained below 50%, or lithium surface is coated with mineral oil, lithium pieces can be handled in open atmosphere at room temperature.

- To maintain best quality, humidity levels of less than 2% are recommended.

Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:

- Store in original unopened shipping container.

- Once opened, store in argon atmosphere or mineral oil.

- Keep away from water, humid air, acids and oxidizing materials.

- Keep away from heat, sparks and flame.

Specific end uses:

- Defined in Exposure scenarios. Industrial and professional use only

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

1415

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Lithium

Chemical name:

LITHIUM METAL

Language:

English

Labels:

Not applicable

Special provisions / remarks

Special provisions:

Environmental hazards:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL73/78 and the IBC Code:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Remarks:

Special precautions for user:
- None

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

UN number:

1415

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Lithium

Chemical name:

LITHIUM METAL

Language:

English

Labels:

4.3

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Environmental hazards:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL73/78 and the IBC Code:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Special precautions for user:
- None

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

1415

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Lithium

Chemical name:

LITHIUM METAL

Labels:

Not applicable

Marine pollutant

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Environmental hazards:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL73/78 and the IBC Code:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Special precautions for user:
- None

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

1415

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

Lithium

Chemical name:

LITHIUM METAL

Labels:

Not applicable

Special provisions / remarks

Remarks:

Environmental hazards:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL73/78 and the IBC Code:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Special precautions for user:
- None

Additional transport information

Additional information

Special provisions / remarks / other:

Environmental hazards:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL73/78 and the IBC Code:
- Based on available data, the classification criteria are not met.

Special precautions for user:
- None

Exposure controls / personal protection

Exposure controls/Personal Protection:

Engineering controls:

- Use local exhaust ventilation to keep airborne concentrations below exposure limits.

Personal protective equipment:

- Safety glasses or goggles for general use.

- Full flame-resistant face shield required if metal is in a molten state.

- Respiratory: None

- Gloves: Dry rubber gloves for general use.

- Wear full flame-resistant clothing if the metal is handled or used in a molten state.

Work Hygienic Practices:

- Quick-drench eyewash and safety shower.

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity:

- Reacts violently with water, producing flammable hydrogen gas.

Chemical stability:

- Stable when kept dry and under inert gas.

Possibility of hazardous reaction:

- Reacts violently with water, producing flammable hydrogen gas.

- Hazardous polymerization will not occur.

Conditions to avoid:

- Temperatures above the melting point (180.5ºC/357ºF)

- Contact with water

- Moisture

- Humid air

Incompatible materials:

- Acids

- oxidizers

- Oxygen

- Nitrogen

- Carbon dioxide

Hazardous decomposition products:

- Lithium is an element and does not decompose.

- However, it is highly reactive in contact with many other substances, releasing large quantities of heat and/or hazardous products.

- It can react violently with water, the humidity in air, and the moisture in other substances, releasing hydrogen gas, which may catch fire explosively.

- Corrosive fumes of lithium oxide and/or lithium hydroxide are also released.

Disposal considerations

Waste treatment methods:

- Waste containing lithium metal is considered a reactive waste.

- Disposal facilities specializing in the handling of reactive waste are recommended.

- Dispose of waste according to local and Federal laws and regulations.