Methyl IsocyanateGroup 3• Ng Geok Ting • Nian Yue• Anh• Syahmi

Methyl Isocyanate is a volatile, colourless liquid with a strong, sharp odor that causes tears.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES :• Boiling point: 39°C• Melting point: -80°C• Relative density (water = 1): 0.96• Solubility in water, g/100 ml at 20°C: reaction• Vapour pressure, kPa at 20°C: 54

Identification

• Relative vapour density (air = 1): 2

• Relative density of the vapour/air-mixture at 20°C (air = 1): 1.44

• Health

• Fire

• Environmental

Hazards of methyl isocyanate

Health Hazards

• Acute effects• Chronic effects• Reproductive and developmental effects• Cancer risks

Fire hazards

• Flammable liquid• Cannot use water to put out the fire• Poisonous gas produce in the fire• Vapors may travel to source of ignition and

flash back• Vapor heavier than air and may travel a

distance to cause a fire or explosion.

Environmental hazard

• Bacterial contamination of drinking water• Air pollution• Contamination of food

Fire data of methyl isocyanate

• At temperatures below 39ºC (102ºF)• Very flammable colorless liquid that readily

evaporates when exposed to air. • Gaseous methyl isocyanate is slightly heavier

than air. • Release Hydrogen cyanide

Explosive Data of Methyl Isocyanate

• Very explosive – vol% in air: 5.3-26• Flash point: -7°C c.c.• Auto-ignition temperature: 535°C• Reacts violently with fire extinguishing agents

such as water and hydrated agents

First Aid Measures• Fire: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry sand, powder,

carbon dioxide. NO hydrous agents.

• Explosion : In case of fire: cool drums, by spraying with water but avoid contact of the substance with water. Combat fire from a sheltered position.

• Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. And give artificial respiration.

• Skin: Remove polluted clothes. Wash skin with water or shower.

• Eye: First rinse with water for several minutes, then go to see a doctor.

• Ingestion: Wash mouth. Do not induce vomiting, then drink plenty of water.

Application of Methyl Isocyanate

• Pesticides

• polyurethane foam

• plastics

Building Industry

• Sandwich panels • Pre-insulated pipes • Moulded or cut 1/2 pipe sectionals • Spray foam • Rigid slabs • Supports for manufacture of lightweight concrete and pre-fabricated walls / slabs

Thermal Insulation For Food Industry

• Refrigerated show cases • Domestic and commercial refrigerators & deep freeze chests • Insulation of fishing vessel hull & storage areas • Ice boxes for commercial and domestic purposes • Refrigerated containers • Refrigerated trucks / transport

Thermal Insulation For Hot / Cold Purposes

• Hot water heater tanks • Insulated drink and food containers • Temperature controlled rooms / vessels • Pipelines / valves

Buoyancy & Void Filling

• Buoys • Pontoons • Filling of voids to prevent pests and vermin

Other Applications

• Air filter rims

Incident- Bhopal Disaster

• The worst industrial tradegy How was it happened?• Occurred from Union Carbide India plant,

Bhopal, India on midnight 2nd-3rd of Dec, 1984• 42 tons of MIC- a super poisonous chemical-

was contained in only one tank (tank 610)• Water cleaning of pipes entered into the MIC

tank 610 caused a violently huge reaction.

• More than 3800 people died immediately and quietly in the early morning the incident took place, others victim had injuries

• 8,000 victims died within 2 weeks, 15000 died in the first month

• Up to now, more than 520,000 people have been affected by the disaster

• Damage estimated:

Causes:• Technological errors: amount of MIC contained in

the tank was far exceeded the allowed safety limit; many valves and lines were in poor condition; safety system was inadequate and safety regulations were ignored …

• Organizational and operational errors: they use MIC instead of a less toxic ( but more expensive ) material; poor education of operators and shortage of supervisors, workers;

• Legal errors: the chemical plant was allowed to locate in the heart of a densely populated area.

How do you as a Logistician would find the MSDS useful in your job in the future?

Provide Instructions For:• potential hazard prevention• first aid• emergency response• safe storage• physical property • environmental risk associated with a

particular material. • properly label substances and hazard symbols

The EndReference : http://www.apu.com.sg/en/rigidform.aspxhttp://www.intox.org/databank/documents/chemical/methylis/eics0004.htmhttp://msds.chem.ox.ac.uk/ME/methyl_isocyanate.htmlhttp://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1270.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster#cite_note-Eckerman2001-0http://www.netphotograph.com/article.php?id=6

• http://www.grazian-archive.com/governing/bhopal/Bhopal_C6.html

• http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Pollution/bhopal.htm

• http://www.green-web.org/zt/bhopal/pix.html• http://www.mcphate.com/clips/bhopal.htm