Valeric acid

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Eye Contact: Wash immediately and continuously with flowing water for at least 30 minutes.  Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue washing. Obtain prompt medical consultation, preferably from an ophthalmologist.  

Skin Contact: Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing.  Seek medical attention if symptoms occur or irritation persists.  Wash clothing before reuse.  Discard items which cannot be decontaminated, including leather articles such as shoes, belts and watchbands.  

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air; if effects occur, consult a physician.  

Ingestion: If swallowed, seek medical attention.  Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by medical personnel.  

Notes to Physician: Chemical eye burns may require extended irrigation.  Obtain prompt consultation, preferably from an ophthalmologist.  If burn is present, treat as any thermal burn, after decontamination.  No specific antidote.  Treatment of exposure should be directed at the control of symptoms and the clinical condition of the patient.  

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing Media: Water fog or fine spray.  Dry chemical fire extinguishers.  Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.  Foam.  Alcohol resistant foams (ATC type) are preferred. General purpose synthetic foams (including AFFF) or protein foams may function, but will be less effective.  

Fire Fighting Procedures: Keep people away.  Isolate fire and deny unnecessary entry.  Do not use direct water stream.  May spread fire.  Burning liquids may be moved by flushing with water to protect personnel and minimize property damage.  Avoid accumulation of water.  Product may be carried across water surface spreading fire or contacting an ignition source.  

Special Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear positive-pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and protective fire fighting clothing (includes fire fighting helmet, coat, trousers, boots, and gloves).  Avoid contact with this material during fire fighting operations. If contact is likely, change to full chemical resistant fire fighting clothing with self-contained breathing apparatus.  If this is not available, wear full chemical resistant clothing with self-contained breathing apparatus and fight fire from a remote location.

Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards: Violent steam generation or eruption may occur upon application of direct water stream to hot liquids.  

Hazardous Combustion Products: During a fire, smoke may contain the original material in addition to combustion products of varying composition which may be toxic and/or irritating.  Combustion products may include and are not limited to:  Carbon monoxide.  Carbon dioxide.  

Accidental release measures

Steps to be Taken if Material is Released or Spilled: Small spills:  Contain spilled material if possible.  Collect in suitable and properly labeled containers.  Large spills:  Dike area to contain spill.  Pump into suitable and properly labeled containers.

Personal Precautions: Isolate area.  Keep unnecessary and unprotected personnel from entering the area.  Keep upwind of spill.  Ventilate area of leak or spill.  No smoking in area.  Use appropriate safety equipment.

Environmental Precautions: Prevent from entering into soil, ditches, sewers, waterways and/or groundwater.

Handling and storage

General Handling: Do not get in eyes.  Avoid contact with skin and clothing.  Avoid breathing vapor.  Keep container closed.  Use with adequate ventilation.  Wash thoroughly after handling.  Containers, even those that have been emptied, can contain vapors. Do not cut, drill, grind, weld, or perform similar operations on or near empty containers.  

Storage

Store in original container.  

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

UN2922

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

CORROSIVE LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S.

Chemical name:

VALERIC ACID

Language:

English

Labels:

corrosive (8)
toxic (6.1)

SpecialProvisions

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

UN number:

UN2922

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

CORROSIVE LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S.

Chemical name:

VALERIC ACID

Language:

English

Labels:

corrosive (8)
toxic (6.1)

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

UN2922

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

CORROSIVE LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S.

Chemical name:

VALERIC ACID

Labels:

corrosive (8)
toxic (6.1)

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

UN2922

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

CORROSIVE LIQUID, TOXIC, N.O.S.

Chemical name:

VALERIC ACID

Labels:

corrosive (8)
toxic (6.1)

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

Personal Protection

Eye/Face Protection: Use chemical goggles.  Chemical goggles should be consistent with EN 166 or equivalent.  Eye wash fountain should be located in immediate work area.  

Skin Protection: Use protective clothing chemically resistant to this material.  Selection of specific items such as face shield, boots, apron, or full body suit will depend on the task.  Safety shower should be located in immediate work area.  Remove contaminated clothing immediately, wash skin area with soap and water, and launder clothing before reuse or dispose of properly.  Items which cannot be decontaminated, such as shoes, belts and watchbands, should be removed and disposed of properly.  

Hand protection: Use chemical resistant gloves classified under Standard EN374: Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms.  Examples of preferred glove barrier materials include:  Chlorinated polyethylene.  Neoprene.  Polyethylene.  Ethyl vinyl alcohol laminate ("EVAL").  Polyvinyl chloride ("PVC" or "vinyl").  Viton.  Examples of acceptable glove barrier materials include:  Butyl rubber.  Natural rubber ("latex").  Nitrile/butadiene rubber ("nitrile" or "NBR").  Polyvinyl alcohol ("PVA").  When prolonged or frequently repeated contact may occur, a glove with a protection class of 5 or higher (breakthrough time greater than 240 minutes according to EN 374) is recommended.  When only brief contact is expected, a glove with a protection class of 3 or higher (breakthrough time greater  than 60 minutes according to EN 374) is recommended.  NOTICE: The selection of a specific glove for a particular application and duration of use in a workplace should also take into account all relevant workplace factors such as, but not limited to: Other chemicals which may be handled, physical requirements (cut/puncture protection, dexterity, thermal protection), potential body reactions to glove materials, as well as the instructions/specifications provided by the glove supplier.  

Respiratory Protection: Respiratory protection should be worn when there is a potential to exceed the exposure limit requirements or guidelines.  If there are no applicable exposure limit requirements or guidelines, wear respiratory protection when adverse effects, such as respiratory irritation or discomfort have been experienced, or where indicated by your risk assessment process.  For most conditions no respiratory protection should be needed;  however, if discomfort is experienced, use an approved air-purifying respirator.  Use the following CE approved air-purifying respirator:  Organic vapor cartridge, type A (boiling point >65 ºC)  

Ingestion: Use good personal hygiene.  Do not consume or store food in the work area.  Wash hands before smoking or eating.  

Engineering Controls

Ventilation: Use local exhaust ventilation, or other engineering controls to maintain airborne levels below exposure limit requirements or guidelines.  If there are no applicable exposure limit requirements or guidelines, general ventilation should be sufficient for most operations.  Local exhaust ventilation may be necessary for some operations.  

Stability and reactivity

Stability/Instability

Thermally stable at typical use temperatures.  

Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to elevated temperatures can cause product to decompose.  

Incompatible Materials: Avoid contact with oxidizing materials.  Avoid contact with:  Amines.  Ammonia.  Strong acids.  Strong bases.  

Hazardous Polymerization

Will not occur.  

Thermal Decomposition

Decomposition products depend upon temperature, air supply and the presence of other materials.  

Disposal considerations

This product, when being disposed of in its unused and uncontaminated state should be treated as a hazardous waste according to EC Directive 91/689/EEC.  Any disposal practices must be in compliance with all national and provincial laws and any municipal or local by-laws governing hazardous waste.  For used, contaminated and residual materials additional evaluations may be required.  Do not dump into any sewers, on the ground, or into any body of water.