chlorine document

8/11/2019 Chlorine Document

1/19

Safety Guidelines for Chlorine Applicationsat Water Treatment Plants

October 2011

Emerency !esponse Centre Phone " #$1 %&''( 2)*$ 1+0

,-P- Pollution Control .oard/ P. " #$1 %&''( 2)*))2+2)**1$1

E'/ Sector/ Parya3aran Parisar/ 4A " #$1 %&''( 2)*5 &)2

Arera Colony/ .hopal 6 )*2 01* E-mail " ercmppcb7nic-in

8ndia Web " 333-ercmp-nic-in

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 1 -
http://www.ercmp.nic.in/http://www.ercmp.nic.in/


2/19

INDEX

1. Introduction 03

2. Application of Disinfectant at Water Works 03

3. Characteristics of Chlorine 03

4. Eposure !outes 04

". Eposure #i$its 04

%. &ar$ful Effects of Chlorine 04

'. Causes of Concern for Chlorine Application 0"

(. !e)uire$ent of *afet+ *+ste$s at Water ,reat$ent -lant 0%

. *tora/e and &andlin/ of Chlorine C+linders 0

10. Chlorine Detection and Deconta$ination *+ste$ 0

10.1 Detection *+ste$ 0

10.2 Neutraliation -it 10

10.3 *cruer *+ste$ 12

11. *pill #eaka/e &andlin/ 13

12. -ersonal -rotectie ethods 14

13. 5irst Aid 1%

14. Appendices 14

i. Areiations used 1'

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 2 -


3/19

1- 8ntroduction "

Chlorine is one of the most common chemicals used in diverse industrial fields

including pharmaceuticals, pulp paper industries, automo!ile components

manufacture, agrochemicals and in manufacturing products of domestic andother use li"e cleaning !leaching agent, P#C etc$ Chlorine is %idel& used in

treatment of %ater as disinfectant and protection against %ater!orne micro!es$

Chlorine is ha'ardous and ma& pose potential ris" and a severe emergenc& ma&

suddenl& and une(pectedl& occur at chlorine storage and handling site$ )uch

eventualities should !e anticipated and proper s&stem must !e installed to tac"le

them effectivel&$

2- Application of 9isinfectants at Water Wor:s "

* %ide range of disinfectants are availa!le such as chlorination, o'oni'ation and

+# disinfection and all %ater %or"s use them for the suppl& of safe pota!le%ater$ espite !eing to(ic, the chlorine is the most preferred disinfectant on

account of lo%er cost and eas& availa!ilit&$

5- Characteristics of Chlorine "

Chlorine gas is 2$. times heavier than air and is greenish &ello% in colour %ith

disagreea!le, sharp, pungent and penetrating odor$ t is non flamma!le !ut strong

o(idi'er and highl& corrosive, ver& to(ic to a0uatic organisms and !irds$ t can

e(ists as a gas or as a li0uid$ he li0uid chlorine is am!er coloured and a!out

1$ times heavier than %ater$ t vapori'es at standard temperature and pressure

%ith 1 litre li0uid &ielding a!out 3 litres of gas$

Conversion 4 1 ppm 5 2$.6 mg/m7

)olu!ilit& in %ater 4 3$89

:ree'ing Point 4 -13

o

: #apor densit& 4 2$. g/litre

#apor pressure 4 $. !ar at 23 oC

)p$ ;ravit& 4 1$8 g/ml at 3oC

Critical emp$ 4 1oC

Critical pressure 4 8


4/19

)- E;posure !outes "

he chlorine enters the !od& through )"in, E&es and nhalation$

'- E;posure

=. hours e(posure>

?)@-REL 3$ PPM =1$ mg/m7>

=1 minutes e(posure>

*- =armful Effects of Chlorine"

Chlorine in high concentration acts as an asph&(iant !& causing cramps in the

muscles of the lar&n( =cho"ing>, s%elling of the mucous mem!ranes, nausea,

vomiting and an(iet&$ *cute respirator& distress including cough, hemopt&sis,chest pain, d&spnea, and later tracheo!ronchitis, pulmonar& edema, and

pneumonia ma& supervene =see ta!le !elo%>$

To;ic Effects of Chlorine

Chlorine Concentration Effects

3$37 - 3$1 ppm Range of odour threshold

1 - 7 ppm Ma& cause mild irritation to e&es, nose, throat

7 - ppm )tinging or !urning in e&es, nose, throat$ Ma& cause

headache, %atering e&es, snee'ing, coughing, !reathing

difficult&, !lood& nose and !lood-tinged sputum$

- 1 ppm )evere irritation of e&es, nose, throat and respirator&

tract

13 ppm mmediatel& angerous to Life @ealth =L@>73 -


5/19

Chlorine is corrosive to the e&es, s"in, and respirator& tract$ E&e contact can

cause permanent damage$ nhalation of the gas can cause pulmonar& edema, a

medical emergenc& that can !e dela&ed for several hours$ his can cause death$

Rapid evaporation of the li0uid ma& cause frost!ite$ Repeated e(posure ma&

permanentl& damage the lungs or cause chronic !ronchitis$ Chlorine ma& affect

the teeth resulting in erosion, and cause s"in rash$ * single high e(posure ma&cause similar health effects$

&- Causes of concern for Chlorine Applications"

he use of chlorine for the disinfection of pota!le %ater supplies has !een of

great significance from a pu!lic health perspective !ut its application raises

serious concerns %hich need prime attention from safet& point of vie%$ he

causes of concern are as follo%s

1$ Chlorine is a highl& to(ic su!stance that is transported !& truc"s/road

transport and can pose severe ha'ard in case of accident$

2$ Chlorine is highl& to(ic, corrosive and penetrating at am!ient temperature

%hich poses potential health ris" to staff at %ater treatment plant and

general pu!lic around, if released !& accident$

7$ )tringent provisions for containment and neutrali'ation needs to !e

maintained at chlorine storage and handling site at %ater %or"s$

Chlorination Mechanism Chlorine tonners C&linders

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - -


6/19

+- !e>uirement of Safety Systems at Water Treatment Plant "

*ll such installations must have %ritten safe %or" procedures, !ut not limited to,

for the follo%ing

C&linder changeLea" detection control

+se of repair "it and container repair

Chec"ing protocol

Respiration protocol

)elf !reathing apparatus protocol

isposal of damaged containers

Routine maintenance of e0uipment

*ll the %ater treatment plants that have chlorination s&stem and use chlorine for

disinfection should have follo%ing safet& arrangements in place to meet theemergenc& situation

1$ ?n-site Emergenc& Plan

2$ Breathing apparatus

7$ Emergenc& "it

$ Lea" detectors

$ eutrali'ation tan"


7/19

$- Storae ? =andlin of Chlorine Cylinders "

he chlorine has a great potential for creating ha'ard hence there is need to

o!serve certain precautions for the storage, use and handling of chlorine

c&linders at site$ )ome of the measures, that need to !e o!served in this regard,are given as follo%s

o not store the c&linders in e(its or egress routes$

C&linder storage area should !e %ell ventilated$

C&linders should not !e stored in damp areas, near salt or corrosive

chemicals, fumes, heat or %here e(posed to the %eather$

C&linders should !e stored in an upright position$

*l%a&s use proper trunnians to place a c&linder on ground$

C&linders shall !e secured %ith a chain or appropriate !elt a!ove the

midpoint, !ut !elo% the shoulder$

he& must !e stored in such a %a& that c&linders are used in the order in

%hich the& are received$

*void storing c&linder longer than one &ear %ithout use$

C&linders shall !e "ept at least 23 ft$ a%a& from all flamma!le, com!usti!le

or incompati!le su!stances$

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 8 -


8/19

)torage areas that have a noncom!usti!le %all at least ft$ in height and

%ith a fire resistance rating of at least 73 minutes ma& !e used to segregategases of different ha'ard classes in close pro(imit& to each other$

C&linders should not !e dragged, rolled or ph&sicall& carried$ * lifter, hand

truc", monorail etc$ should !e used to carr& or transport the c&linder in thepremises$

Magnets should not !e used for lifting c&linders$

he c&linders should not !e painted !& users$

Close valves on gas c&linders %hen the s&stem is not in use$

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - . -


9/19

o not open the c&linder if the valve is corroded$

Chec" e0uipment and lines fre0uentl& o%ing to the corrosive nature of

chlorine$

ever attempt to modif&, alter or repair containers valves$ hese tas"s

should !e carried out !& the suppliers$

Remove regulator after use and flush %ith dr& air or nitrogen$

?nl& the %renches and tools provided !& the c&linder supplier should !e

used to handle the valve$ Pliers or other tools should never !e used instead$

ever attempt to appl& P:E tape or other sealing material to tight the seal$

he tightening should !e achieved metal to metal else the valve or regulatorshould !e replaced$

ever use oil or grease on the regulator of a c&linder valve$

*n operator must !e given proper training to handle the c&linder$

*l%a&s follo% the chlorine suppliersD recommendations to dispose off

lea"ing or damaged c&linders$

10- Chlorine 9etection and 9econtamination System "

10-1 Detection System

Chlorine detection and neutrali'ation facilit& is essentiall& re0uired at %ater

treatment plants %here chlorine c&linders or tonners are used for disinfection

purpose$ his s&stem activates the emergenc& services and decontaminates thespilled material to tac"le the chemical emergenc& situation$

he chlorine detection e0uipment should !e installed at strategic locations in the

plant area, including at chlorine inection area, c&linders storage area, c&linder

off-load site etc, so that it can sense the odor even at 3$1 ppm = 3$2.6 mg/m 7> and

activate the siren to alert the people in and around$ he chlorine detections&stems should function in on-line as %ell as off-line mode, i$e$ in the event of

lea"age %hen the chlorination is in progress, i$e$ tonners in use, and also %hen

the chlorination process is off or tonners are "ept off line$

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 6 -


10/19

n addition to gas detection e0uipment, ammonia torch test should !e performed

periodicall& at strategic locations in the plant area to chec" the chlorine lea"age$

)ilver nitrate test can also !e tried to chec" the presence of chlorine, !ut the

former should !e preferred$ @and& electronic detectors can also !e used to chec"

the lea"age of chlorine$

*mmonia torch test Electronic detectors

Ammonia torch Test " * glass rod having cotton %rapper on one end, dipped in

li0uor ammonia, gives %hite smo"e of ammonium chloride %hen comes incontact %ith chlorine$

Sil@er nitrate Test " Ahen a glass rod, dipped in silver nitrate solution, comes in

contact %ith chlorine, a %hite precipitate is formed at its tip$

10.2 Neutralization Pit

he chlorine storage and handling area in a %ater treatment/purification plant

must have chlorine neutrali'ation facilit&, vi'$ neutrali'ation pit as %ell as

scru!!er s&stem$ he neutrali'ation pit should !e constructed close tochlorination site and chlorine storage area$ here should !e sufficient slope

!et%een platform and neutrali'ation pit so that the lea"ed or defected chlorine

c&linder/tonner can !e rolled do%n easil& and s%iftl& into the neutrali'ation pit$

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 13 -


11/19

he surface area and the volume of pit should !e planned in such a manner that

chlorine container is immersed completel& in the al"ali solution$

he caustic solution, sodium h&dro(ide, is preferred for the neutrali'ation

purpose o%ing to its faster and !etter a!sorption efficienc& as against lime %hichcause pro!lem of sludge formation and cho"ing of treatment s&stem pipelines$ *

read& prepared caustic solution should !e used in the pit instead of pouring

sodium h&dro(ide pallets in the pit %ater as the a!sorption efficienc& in the later

case %ould !e less$ deall& the 0uantit& of a?@ needed for the neutrali'ing one

tonner, i$e$ 633 "g, %ould !e 13


12/19

10.3 Scrubber Unit

n addition to chlorine neutrali'ation pit, all the %ater treatment plants should

have an effective automated chlorine scru!!er s&stem %hich can activateautomaticall& immediatel& on sensing the chlorine presence in the am!ient

environment to a!sor! the lea"ed gas and neutrali'e it in the scru!!er$

he Chlorine ;as Lea"age etection, *!sorption and eutrali'ation )&stem

reduces the ris" of chlorine gas spreading into the atmosphere$ t automaticall&

controls and a!sor!s heav& lea"s from 133 "g or from 633 "g ton containers to

a!sor! in caustic solution, thus forming h&po chlorite that can !e reused as acleaning agent$



13/19

he scru!!er/neutrali'ation s&stem consists of a !lo%er, a!sorption to%er

pac"ed %ith rasching rings, an al"ali =a?@> tan", al"ali circulation pump,

piping valves and light %eight :RP and P#C duct$ he chlorine gas is suc"ed !&

!lo%er and is delivered to the a!sorption to%er %here it is a!sor!ed !& a!sor!ent

and the air is vented at the top of the to%er$ *s the e(tracted air, contaminated

%ith chlorine gas, is !lo%n up through the column the caustic soda reacts %ith itto form sodium chloride and sodium h&pochlorite$ *s this a!sorption is

accompanied !& a chemical reaction, there is negligi!le chlorine in the air vent$

t should !e ensured that a sufficient 0uantit& of a!sor!ent is continuousl&

circulated in the a!sorption to%er from the a!sor!ent tan" till the tonner gets



14/19

emptied$ he spent a!sor!ent, after completion of neutrali'ation of all chlorine,

%ill contain onl& sodium chloride or sodium h&pochlorite %hich are innocuous$

11- Spill lea:ae handlin "

n the event of spillage or lea"age of chlorine follo%ing measures ma& !eo!served for speed& control and minimi'ing the e(tend of damage

Contact Emergenc& Response Centre on phone no$ 38-2,

2


15/19

12- Personal Protecti@e ,easures "

here is al%a&s chance of lea"age or spillage of chlorine gas at %ater treatment

facilit& and there is li"elihood of e(cessive gas levels in case the lea"ed gas is

not controlled and this can adversel& affect the plant staff and people in thevicinit& area$ t is, therefore, strongl& recommended to have respirator&

protection in the form of full-face gas mas"s %ith proper canisters or supplied

air respirators =)*R> at site %hich can !e used !& the staff in times of

emergenc&$

he s"in effects of chlorine can generall& !e controlled !& good personal

h&giene practices$ f ver& high gas concentrations or li0uid chlorine is present,

full protective clothing, gloves, and e&e protection should !e used$ he

follo%ing are recommended in this regard

But&l ru!!er, eoprene, eflonI, )arane( I, Barricade I, CP:7 I,

Responder I, #iton I, rellchem @P) I, &chem 13333 I =Resistance to

!rea"through longer than . hour> are among the recommended protective

materials$

itrile ru!!er, @ I =Resistance to !rea"through longer than hours> is also

recommended$

t is not recommended to use ver& thin natural ru!!er, neoprene, nitrile and

P#C gloves of 3$7 mm or less$

Pol&eth&lene and pol&vin&l chloride are also not recommended$

+se supplied air respirator =)*R> or chemical cartridge respirator %ith

cartridge to protect against Cl2up to ppm$

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 1 -


16/19

Personal Protecti@e adets

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 1< -


17/19

+se )*R operated in a continuous flo% mode %ith cartridge / full face piece

chemical cartridge respirator %ith cartridge / gas mas" %ith canister / full face

piece self-contained !reathing apparatus =)CB*> or full face piece )*R toprotect against chlorine up to 13 ppm$

15- 4irst Aid "

n the event of an e(posure to chlorine, the follo%ing first aid measures can !e

adopted to minimi'e the damage to !od& s&stems

he aids that should !e made availa!le at chlorine storage and handling site for

immediate assistance include Compressed o(&gen, forced-o(&gen mas", soap,

%ater, normal saline, A, RingerDs lactate, isoproterenol inhaler, sodium

!icar!onate etc$

A is 9 de(trose in %ater %hich consists of 28. mmol/L de(trose$ RingerDs

lactate is !asicall& cr&stalloids %hich include saline and de(trose$

n case of s"in e(posure, remove the contaminated clothes immediatel&, rinse

s"in %ith plent& of %ater for at least 1 minutes and %ash the s"in %ith soap

and %ater$

n case of e(posure to e&es, rinse the e&es %ith plent& of lu"e%arm %ater for at

least 1 minutes$ Contact doctors for medical aid$

o not allo% the victim to drin" alcohol or smo"e$

;ive plent& of mil" to the victim, if he can drin"$

n case of inhalation tr& to get fresh air or artificial respiration$ Chec"

respirator& rate and note an& trauma$ n case if no pulse is detected, provide

cardiopulmonar& resuscitation =CPR>$ f not !reathing, provide artificial

respiration$ f !reathing is la!ored, administer o(&gen or respirator& support$



18/19

Areiations 6sed

CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

ERC - Emergency Response Centre

FRP - Fiber Reinforced Plastic

ICSC - International Chemical Safety Card

IDLH - Immediately Dangerous to Life Health

!SDS - !aterial Safety Data Sheet

mg"m# - !illigram per cubic meter

!mol"L - !illimole per liter

$I%SH - $ational Institute of %ccupational Safety Health

PP! - Parts Per !illion

PEL - Permissible E&posure Limit

P'FE - Polytetrafluoroethylene

REL - Recommended E&posure Limit

S(R - Supplied (ir Respirator

SC)( - Self Contained )reathing (pparatus

'L* - 'hreshold Limit *alue

ERC/MPPCB/BPL - 1. -


19/19

'+( - 'ime +eightage (,erage

P*C - Poly,inyl Chloride

chlorine document

Documents