Carbon Monoxide Cylinder
Carbon monoxide (carbonous oxide, carbon oxide) is a colorless, extremely toxic, odorless and tasteless gas that is lighter than air (the chemical formula is CO). It is explosive in mixture with air, lower and upper concentration flammability limits are from 12.5 to 74% (by volume). Carbon monoxide is liquefied at a temperature of -191.5 °C, and freezes at a temperature of -205.0 °C. Industrial quantities of carbon monoxide are produced by the combustion of carbon or carbon-based compounds (e.g. gasoline) in a lack of oxygen, or by the reduction of carbon dioxide with red-hot coal.
APPLICATION:
• due to its very good calorific value and combustion temperature up to 2100 °C it is used as a component of various industrial gas mixtures (for example, generator gas) used for heating among other things; • due to its ability to react with hydrogen to form organic compounds, it is used for the production of such important industrial products as methanol, synthetic diesel fuel, polyhydric alcohols, oils and lubricants; • due to the ability to reduce metals, it is used in pyrometallurgy; • for treating meat of animals and fish to give them a bright red color and appearance of freshness without changing the taste. The permissible concentration of CO is 200 mg/kg of the product. • in reaction with chlorine to produce phosgene, a substance widely used in various branches of the chemical industry; • in reaction with ammonia at high temperatures to produce an important compound for industry - hydrogen cyanide. Requirements for transportation, storage and use of cylinders for carbon monoxide are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", TU 6-02-7-101-86 "Gaseous carbon monoxide. Technical specifications", fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders filled with carbon monoxide shall be transported by rail, road and water transport in accordance with the regulations on transportation of dangerous goods, applicable to the relevant mode of transport. The cylinders shall be transported in a horizontal position with gaskets between the cylinders or in a vertical position necessarily with a guard against possible falling. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of carbon monoxide must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using cylinders for carbon monoxide it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. The maximum permissible concentration of carbon monoxide in the air of the working area is 30 mg/m3. When working with carbon monoxide, safety requirements must be observed and personal protective equipment in the form of a filtering industrial gas mask with a special filtering element - hopcalite cartridge or self-contained breathing apparatus must be used. A mixture of carbon monoxide and air is explosive. When carbon monoxide ignites in the fire zone, fixed automatic fire-extinguishing systems, water, foam or inert gases must be used to extinguish the fire. The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2).
Cylinders filled with carbon monoxide are stored in special closed warehouses. Warehouses must be located in a lightning protection zone. In the premises where the cylinders filled with carbon monoxide are stored, it is prohibited to handle open flame; electrical networks and artificial lighting must be of explosion-proof design. Do not use tools that produce sparks on impact. It is forbidden to store cylinders with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the same room, it is forbidden to store cylinders in the room where the technological process of using carbon monoxide contained in them is carried out. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on.